Study warns of arsenic in nicotine pouches

A laboratory study conducted jointly by the National Committee against Smoking (CNCT) and the National Institute for Consumption (INC/60 Million Consumers) warns of the presence of heavy metals in nicotine pouches sold in tobacconists and on the internet. The results also point to high nicotine levels, unreliable labeling and high levels of sweeteners, particularly sugars.

Seven products from four manufacturers were analyzed, including the brands most readily available in France.

Arsenic and heavy metals found in all brands analyzed

The study highlights the presence of heavy metals in all the products analyzed, and more particularly arsenic. The quantities of arsenic found can be up to 6.5 times higher than those found in a traditional cigarette. While arsenic is a proven carcinogen and a toxic and irritant substance, such results appear to be worrying for the health of consumers, especially since these products, intended to be placed on the gum for several tens of minutes, result in a long period of exposure to arsenic. The laboratory study also highlights the presence of lead, antimony (potentially carcinogenic) and formaldehyde (toxic and corrosive) in several brands.

Particularly high nicotine levels and sweeteners to target young people

The analysis also shows that the actual nicotine content of the products is unrelated to the content indicated on the boxes, highlighting the lack of reliability of the labelling for the consumer. The content is particularly high, up to 10 times the authorized limits for nicotine substitutes (gums), available in pharmacies and dedicated to the treatment of smoking cessation. For the two organizations, such content is sufficient to demonstrate that these products are vectors of nicotine addiction, particularly for the younger generations.

This desire of manufacturers to target young people is also reflected in the high levels of sweeteners such as succralose, found in several brands. Such a sweetener has a sweetening power more than 600 times greater than that of table sugar, meaning that, given the levels found in two products, these brands taste as sweet as if they were entirely or almost entirely composed of sugar.

Illegally marketed products

Some brand packaging also mockingly displays information in a foreign language on which a sticker was affixed, while such practices are illegal. The CNCT also emphasizes that these products are the subject of a particularly strong advertising strategy, and relayed by the tobacconist network. On the internet, where these products are available, no rigorous age verification is carried out. Above all, nicotine pouches do not correspond to the shape or dosage of authorized nicotine products and are an exception to the regulation of poisonous substances, to which nicotine belongs, as a neurotoxicant. Furthermore, unlike nicotine substitutes, nicotine pouches do not have any marketing authorization (MA). In fact, the CNCT and the INC/60 Million Consumers point out that the marketing of nicotine pouches is illegal and is similar to the marketing of a poisonous substance. For all these reasons, the two organisations are calling for an explicit and immediate ban on these products, as announced at the beginning of November by the former Minister of Health, Geneviève Darrieussecq.

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FT

National Committee Against Smoking |