- Zyns are small white pouches filled with potent nicotine that are intended to be placed in the user’s mouth between the lips and gums
- Schumer alleged that Zyn markets its products to teens through social media, and said federal officials should investigate the company
- The New York Democrat called the product a “bag of problems – high levels of nicotine – that sparked outrage online
- “Why the hell is there only one side of the government trying to take away and pursue the things I like,” complained a Barstool Sports writer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned about the popular tobacco-free nicotine alternative Zyn, sparking outrage among users and lawmakers.
The veteran Democrat claimed this weekend that Zyn is marketing its products to teens through social media, and that federal officials should investigate the company.
Zyns are small white pouches filled with potent nicotine that are meant to be placed in the user’s mouth between the lips and gums. It is similar to chewing tobacco, snus and other forms of smokeless tobacco, despite containing no tobacco at all.
However, Schumer’s announcement sparked an online fire as lawmakers and users blasted the senior Democrat for suggesting the company should be investigated.
“Come and take it,” Republican Rep. Mike Waltz posted on X in response to Schumer’s announcement.
“I am confident our service members and first responders are using Zyn as an alternative to tobacco to stay alert,” the Florida lawmaker wrote. “This is a huge overreach.”
A writer for Barstool Sports wrote, “If it weren’t for ZYN, I would be doing a lot more damage to my gums and lungs with other nicotine delivery devices.”
“Why the hell is there only one side of the government trying to take away the things I like and pursue,” the writer continued.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer holds a Zyn bag during Sunday’s announcement
The nicotine pouches are sold in different flavors, such as wintergreen, spearmint and peppermint
The New York Democrat called the product a “bag of problems – high nicotine levels.”
“Today I’m issuing a warning to parents because these nicotine pouches seem to be targeting young children, teens and below, and then using social media to hook them,” Schumer said.
Zyn is made by a Swedish tobacco company called Swedish Match and was first introduced in the US in 2014.
The sachets are sold in many flavors, ranging from the ambiguous such as ‘Chill’ to the more simple flavors such as peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen.
Schumer argued that the company should be investigated for its marketing to children
“It is dangerous and we must prevent it from being marketed to children,” Schumer said Sunday.
“Kids know what Zyn is, their parents don’t,” he added. “There are also Zynfluencers who have made nicotine pouches part of their online persona.”
The Democrat called on the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the company’s marketing and the product’s negative health effects.
‘Joe Biden wants to ban menthol cigarettes. Chuck Schumer wants to ban Zyn,” the Republican Senate wrote on X.
“The nanny state is alive and well in today’s Democratic Party.”
President Biden is facing mounting pressure from top Democrats to ban flavored tobacco as his proposal remains in limbo amid the threat of alienating Black voters ahead of the 2024 election.
Last month, the Biden administration moved to implement a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes amid political opposition and warnings that the move could anger Black voters who have drifted away from the president in the polls.
The rule is now expected to be finalized in March, which has been pushed back from the original January date.