Tag: nicotine mints

  • Nicotine Pouch Sales Soar While Vapes Slow

    Nicotine Pouch Sales Soar While Vapes Slow

    Sales of cigarettes and e-cigarettes have declined in the last two weeks, while sales of oral nicotine pouches have seen significant growth, according to analysts at TD Cowen.

    They write in a research note that cigarette volumes across multiple channels were down 10 percent in the two weeks ending Jan. 13, a steeper decline than the trailing four weeks and 12 weeks.

    Bonnie Herzog, managing director at Goldman Sachs, remains cautious on the U.S. tobacco/nicotine industry in the near term as the tobacco consumer remains under substantial financial pressure.

    She stated in an emailed outlook that many consumers are being more selective in their purchases and turning to more affordable alternatives, such as 4th tier/deep discount cigarettes, modern oral tobacco and, increasingly, illicit or gray market disposable vapor products.

    “Shifts in category and consumer spending dynamics have been further exacerbated by flavor ban momentum at the state and federal level (with a final rule expected in March) and uncertainty with regard to the future of the e-cig category and category innovation (with FDA PMTA reviews still pending on big market brands such as JUUL and VUSE Alto, as well as menthol variants more broadly),” Herzog wrote.

    E-cigarette sales fell 11.3 percent in the two-week period and 10.7 percent in the four-week period, according to Barron’s.

    Sales of smokeless tobacco, including nicotine pouches, meanwhile grew 12.1 percent in the two-week period and 13 percent in the four-week period.

    The smokeless category continues to show strong dollar sales growth driven by the Zyn brand, the analysts say.

  • FDA Warns Nic Nac ‘Nicotine Mints’

    FDA Warns Nic Nac ‘Nicotine Mints’

    Image: FDA

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Nic Nac Naturals for the marketing of their unauthorized dissolvable nicotine products, which the company describes as “nicotine mints” and which resemble a pack of mints. These products are of particular concern because of their resemblance to popular candies and the potential to cause severe nicotine toxicity or even death if accidentally ingested by young children, according to the FDA.

    “FDA remains steadfast in our commitment to actively monitor the marketplace and to crack down on companies selling unlawful products, particularly those that can appeal to youth,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “Our goal is to identify and prevent these emerging threats to our nation’s youth before they become mainstream.”

    The manufacturer markets these tobacco products in a variety of mint and fruit flavors, all of which come in two nicotine strengths (3 mg or 6 mg). The packaging states the products contain nontobacco nicotine. The FDA regulates tobacco products containing nicotine from any source, including nontobacco nicotine. Nic Nac Naturals does not have a marketing authorization order from the agency to sell or distribute these products in the U.S.

    One container of 15 of these mints can have as much as 90 mg of nicotine total. According to research, the FDA stated, ingesting 1 mg to 4 mg of nicotine could be toxic or severely toxic to a child under 6 years old, depending on body weight. This means ingesting one mint could be severely toxic to a child under 6 years old. Nicotine toxicity among youth of any age can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased blood pressure and heart rate, seizures, respiratory failure, coma and even death. The FDA also stated that nicotine is highly addictive and exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain.  

    “Today’s action is another example of our ongoing efforts against illegal nontobacco nicotine products,” said Ann Simoneau, director of the CTP’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement. “We remain unwavering in our use of compliance and enforcement resources to curb unlawful marketing of tobacco products, particularly those that youth could easily confuse with something that they consume regularly—like candy.”

    The company has 15 working days to respond to the FDA with steps they will take to correct and prevent future violations. Failure to respond and correct violations may result in addition FDA action, such as an injunction, seizure and/or civil money penalties.