The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the sale of Zyn nicotine pouches after an "extensive scientific review" of their safety.

The agency said in a news release Thursday that it found that popular cigarette pouches carry a lower risk of cancer and other serious health problems than cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products.

The agency also found that the pouches may even benefit smokers, with evidence suggesting they can help smokers quit smoking.

Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science in the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, said: "The data show that these nicotine pouched products meet this standard, making it easier for adults who use cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products to switch to these products entirely. people benefit." in a statement.

Zyn usage has exploded in recent years as online meme trends have gone viral, even causing a shortage last year. However, the product has been in a legal gray area as it undergoes official FDA review of its health effects and use by younger users.

On the latter point, the FDA found that Zyn use among teens appears to be relatively low so far, although it is continuing to monitor the trend.

A spokesman for Philip Morris International Inc., which owns U.S. rights to Zyn, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Swedish Match, the developer of Zyn, issued the following statement:

"FDA Authorization ZYN Swedish Match's nicotine pouches now available in the U.S. are an important step in protecting public health and providing adults 21 and older with better alternatives to cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products. "

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids slammed the FDA's decision in a separate statement.

“The FDA set a dangerous precedent today by authorizing the sale of 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products with flavors clearly appealing to children, including ice, citrus, mint, and mint, putting children across the country at risk. ," it said.

"Given the overwhelming scientific evidence that flavored tobacco products appeal to children, and the fact that nicotine pouches were the only category of tobacco product that saw an increase in youth use last year, the FDA's decision is deeply troubling. The FDA is approving flavored tobacco products as it has become more became increasingly popular with kids and repeated the mistakes Juul made, leading to the teen e-cigarette epidemic."

The FDA emphasized in a press release that its findings regarding Zyn do not mean the product is ultimately safe or "FDA-approved."

"There are no safe tobacco products," the agency said. "Teenagers should not use tobacco products, and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start using them."