Snus

Snus (/snuːs/ SNOOSS, Swedish: [ˈsnʉːs] ^ⓘ) is a smokeless tobacco product that is used by placing it between the upper lip and gum to absorb for extended periods. Snus is not fermented. Although used similarly to American dipping tobacco, snus does not typically result in the need for spitting, and, unlike naswar, snus is steam-pasteurized.

Using snus is harmful to health, although much less than smoking tobacco and other smokeless products.^[1] Snus can cause a various harmful effects such as oesophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer,^[2] cardiovascular disease, stroke^[3][4] and adverse reproductive effects including stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight.^[5] Snus usually contains nicotine, which can lead to nicotine addiction.^[6]

The sale of snus is illegal in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and all European Union (EU) countries except for Sweden.^[8][9] It is the most common type of tobacco product in Norway,^[10] which is not in the EU, and is also available in Switzerland. Some European countries, such as the United Kingdom^[11] and Estonia,^[12] allow the sale of nicotine pouches, snus-like products that contain nicotine but no tobacco. Snus is also available in the United States. Canada makes it difficult to obtain snus through its high taxes on imported tobacco products.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

The English word "snuff" is translated to snus in Swedish. However, the word "snuff" in America is used to refer to the nasal form of tobacco. In Sweden, nasal snuff is referred to as torrsnus or luktsnus. American dipping tobacco (cured moist tobacco that is applied to the lower lip, and that requires spitting) was first popularized and marketed as moist snuff in the 1800s.

Types

Many types of snus are available:

• Loose snus (Swedish: lössnus) is a moist powder that can be shaped into a cylindrical or spherical form using the fingertips or a specialized cylindrical device. This final product is commonly known as a pris (pinch), buga, prilla, or prell (slang). Some individuals, particularly long-time users, opt to simply pinch the tobacco and place it under their upper lip (known as a farmer's pinch or living snus). However, the popularity of loose snus has gradually been overtaken by portioned alternatives. Nowadays, many snus users appreciate the discreet nature of these pre-portioned varieties.
• Portion snus (Swedish: portionssnus) is a convenient and discreet form of snus that comes in small teabag-like sachets filled with moist powder. It is available in smaller quantities compared to loose powder snus. There are two varieties of portion snus:
  • Original portion: This traditional form was introduced in 1973. The sachet material is moisturized during manufacturing, resulting in a brown, moist pouch.
  • White portion: This form has a milder taste and slightly slower release. The sachet material is not moisturized during manufacturing, resulting in a white, dry pouch. The tobacco within the portion material has the same moisture content as original portion snus, but the nicotine and flavor are delivered somewhat slower due to the drier sachet. It's important to note that "white portion" refers to the style, not the color. Some white portion snus use a black material instead of white, yet are still considered "white portion". Examples of such snus include General Onyx, Grovsnus Svart (Black), and Blue Ocean (Blue).
  • The Stingfree portion is a patented pouch for snus and modern oral nicotine pouches, approved in the US and Europe. It features a protective side that effectively reduces the burning sensation and irritation on the user's gum and oral mucosa.^[13]

Portioned snus comes in three sizes: mini, normal/large, and maxi. The weights vary, but most packages disclose the net weight. Mini portions weigh around 0.5 g, normal portions weigh 0.8 to 1 g, and maxi portions weigh up to 1.7 g. Some brands offer regular and long versions of the normal size sachet.

The nicotine content varies among brands, with the most common strength being 8 mg per gram of tobacco. Stark and extra stark varieties have higher nicotine content, with stark varieties containing 11-14 mg and extra stark varieties containing up to 22 mg. Siberia brand has an "Extremely Strong" snus with 43 mg of nicotine per gram of tobacco, the highest available.^[14]

Tobacco substitutes

One variation of snus is tobacco-free snus, which is in fact a snus substitute rather than snus. This snus-like product uses black tea leaves or other herbs, with salts and flavorings, and has no tobacco content.^[15] Like snus, it is available either loose or, more commonly, in bags, which are sometimes known as pods. Even though it is not made from tobacco, most retailers in Sweden will not sell it to people under the age of 18. ^{[citation needed]}

Tobacco-free snus was introduced by the Swedish company Nonico with the brand Choice in 2003.^[16][17] Swedish Match launched their competing brand Onico in 2006.^[18] At first, it was made with corn starch but in 2008, the formula was changed when it was found to cause dental issues due to the sugar created.

Tobacco-free snus have opened up a new market in the EU, where regular snus with tobacco cannot be sold due to regulations.

A nicotine pouch is a white preportioned pouch containing nicotine.^[19] It is like snus, but does not contain tobacco leaf.^[19] Nicotine pouches use plant fibers with added nicotine instead of tobacco. Since the plant fiber is tasteless, it allows manufacturers to make nicotine pouches in a much broader selection of flavors compared to traditional snus with tobacco. Nicotine pouches are usually longer lasting and have a longer shelf-life than traditional snus.^[20] Nicotine pouches are regulated differently around the world. In some countries, like Norway and Canada, their sale in general stores are banned because they are classified as a new nicotine product. In other countries, including many EU countries, they are sold freely, because they do not classify as a tobacco product like snus, due to their lack of tobacco.^[21]

Nicotine pouches are available in a broader selection of nicotine strengths than tobaccos snus since the nicotine is added during the production. With tobacco snus, the strength depends on the type of tobacco and the production method since most manufacturers never add any additional nicotine during the production.

Differences from similar tobacco products

Some forms of tobacco consumed in the mouth may be categorized as:

Swedish snus

A moist form of smokeless tobacco which is usually placed under the upper lip, and which does not result in the need for spitting. It is sold either as a moist powder known as loose snus, or packaged into pouches known as portion snus. Snus is often mildly flavored with food-grade smoke aroma, bergamot, citrus, juniper berry, herbs and/or floral flavors. Most Scandinavian snus is produced in Sweden and regulated as food under the Swedish Food Act.^[22]

American snus

Available since the late 1990s, this is similar to the Scandinavian form, but usually has a lower moisture content and lower pH, resulting in lower bioavailability of nicotine than Scandinavian varieties, meaning less is available for absorption.^[23] American snus is often flavored, e.g., with spearmint, wintergreen, vanilla or fruit (e.g. cherry), and may contain sugar.^[24]

Nasal snuff

Mostly English, German, and Scandinavian, this is referred to as luktsnus in Swedish and luktesnus in Norwegian, and as "Scotch snuff" ^{[citation needed]} in the US, is a dry, powdered form of snuff. It is insufflated – "sniffed" but not deeply "snorted" – through the nose. It is often mentholated or otherwise scented.

Chewing tobacco

North American and European product, also known as chew (or in some Southern US dialects as chaw or “dip”). It is tobacco in the form of short or long, loose leaf and stem strands (like pipe tobacco or longer), or less commonly of chopped leaves and stems compressed into blocks called plugs, or even finely ground pieces compressed into pellets. A few brands are cut into much finer loose strands, like cigarette rolling tobacco. Chew is placed between the cheek and the gums, or actively chewed. It causes copious salivation, especially when chewed, and due to its irritant (even nauseating) effect on the esophagus, this "juice" usually requires spitting. Chewing tobacco is a long-established North American form of tobacco (derived from traditional use of raw tobacco leaf by Indigenous peoples of the Americas), and is also legal in the European Union. Chewing tobacco is sometimes flavored, e.g. with wintergreen, apple, or cherry.

Dipping tobacco

Also known as dip, spit tobacco or, ambiguously, as moist snuff, this is a common American form of tobacco. It is moist, and somewhat finely ground, but less so than snus. Dipping tobacco (so called because users dip their fingers into the package to pinch a portion to insert into the mouth) is placed between the lower lip or cheek and the gums; it is not used nasally. As with chewing tobacco, salivation is copious, and usually spat out. Dipping tobacco is usually flavored, traditionally with wintergreen or mint, though many other flavorings are now available, while some unflavored brands remain popular. Beginning in the mid 1980s, several brands have packaged American dipping tobacco in porous pouches like those used for many brands of Scandinavian and American snus.

Chema

This Algerian product is a moist tobacco similar to Scandinavian snus in many respects. Outside of Algeria, it is most widely known as "Makla", a name that originates from the Algerian brand "Makla El Hilal", which first produced this type of smokeless tobacco during the French colonization.^[25] It is placed in the upper lip in a manner similar to snus; it differs in that it is more finely ground and has an even higher nicotine content and pH level. Sales within the European Union are legal due to its classification as a chewing tobacco. Its safety in comparison to snus has not been studied sufficiently.

Naswar

A central Asian product which is a moist, powdered form of tobacco, often green and sometimes caked with the mineral lime and/or wood ash. It is used like dipping tobacco or put under the tongue, and is pungent and often heavily flavored, e.g. with culinary oils (cardamom, sesame), the fruit lime, menthol, etc.

Snus, dry snuff, and dipping tobacco are distinct products that some English speaking people may refer to as snuff but are all processed and used in very different ways, each with their own sets of risks.

Usage

Snus is typically used by being placed under the upper lip. This is true for both loose snus and portion snus. The pris (pellet of loose snus) or pouch is typically left in place for anywhere between 30 and 120 minutes. No spitting is required.

Snus is not cured, so it can spoil much faster than cured tobacco. While snus is typically refrigerated for short term storage (up to a few months), it is typically frozen for longer term storage of a year or more. It can stay unrefrigerated for a week or more without spoilage. Some snus products are shipped very dry, so they have extended shelf life without needing any refrigeration. This makes them slower to initially "drip", as there is no appreciable moisture in the packet.

Contents

Swedish snus is made from air-dried tobacco from various parts of the world. In earlier times, tobacco for making snus was laid out for drying in Scania and Mälardalen, Sweden. Later, Kentucky tobaccos were used. The ground tobacco is mixed with water, salt, an alkalizing agent (typically, E500), and aroma, and is prepared through heating. After the heating process, food grade aromas are typically added. In Sweden, snus is regulated as a food product and, for this reason, all ingredients are listed on the label of each individual package (can) of snus. Moist snus contains more than 50% water, and the average use of snus in Sweden is approximately 800 grams (16 units) per person each year. About 12% (1.1 million people) of the population in Sweden use snus.^[26] Unlike dipping tobacco and chew, most snus today does not undergo the fermentation process, but is instead steam-pasteurized. Although steam-pasteurization is remarkably complex, it has the advantages of inhibiting the growth of bacteria that facilitate the formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, while preserving the desired texture and mouthfeel of the snus. The absorption of nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, from snus depends on the level of nicotine in the snus and the pH level in the box.^[27] A voluntary quality standard for snus products has been introduced (Gothiatek) that sets maximum levels for certain controversial constituents including nitrosamines, heavy metals, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Most manufacturers of Scandinavian type snus adhere to this standard.

Snus is sold in small tins which, in the earlier years, were made of porcelain, wood, silver, or gold. Portioned snus usually comes in plastic tins of 20 to 24 portions, containing about 0.75 to 1 gram of snus each, while loose snus is mostly sold in wax coated cardboard containers with plastic lids (similar to dip snuff), at 42 g (50 g before 2008). Mini-portion and medium-portion snus are increasingly popular formats. Most of these products come in tins containing 20 portions, of either 0.65 or 0.5 grams each for a total of just under 13 or 10 grams, particularly with those for whom concealing their use of smokeless tobacco in places is of utmost importance.

Industry

Snus is sold primarily in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and has more recently been introduced to South Africa, the Pacific islands and the USA. It is illegal to sell in the European Union, except for Sweden. Despite snus being banned for sale in the EU, it can often be found for sale in places frequented by Scandinavian tourists, such as Chania in Greece.

Although Swedish snus was previously^[when?] only available by mail order in the US, an increasing number of tobacco retailers have now begun to stock it. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA, and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, and American Snuff Company now produce Americanized versions under the brands Camel Snus, Grizzly Snus, and Skoal snus, (with Philip Morris formerly producing snus under the Marlboro brand) respectively.^{[citation needed]} While American snus is packaged in much the same way (moist tobacco in a small pouch), production methods vary considerably from traditional Swedish methods. Additionally, differences in the way American snus is formulated may diminish some of its possible health benefits over other tobacco products.^[23] Swedish Match, the leading manufacturer of Swedish snus, is currently^[when?] test-marketing snus in Canada, Russia, and several regions throughout the US.

Health effects

Various national and international health organizations stated that, even if it is less dangerous than smoking, using snus is addictive, represents a health risk, has no safe level use and is not a safe substitute for smoking.^{[28][29][30][31]}

Using snus can cause a number of adverse health effects such as oesophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer,^[2] cardiovascular disease and stroke.^[3][4] However research is conflicting about the exact levels of health risks caused by snus.^[2]

Snus can cause adverse reproductive effects including stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight. Nicotine in snus products that are used during pregnancy can affect how a baby's brain develops before birth.^[5]

Quitting snus use is as challenging as smoking cessation.^[32] There is no scientific evidence that using snus can help a person quit smoking.^[30][33]

History

One of the pioneers in recognizing the medicinal properties of tobacco was Jean Nicot (1530–1600), a French diplomat residing in Portugal who cultivated tobacco in his garden. Nicot meticulously dried and ground the tobacco leaves into a fine powder, which could be inhaled as snuff. He presented this powder to Catherine de’ Medici (1519–1589), the Queen of France, in an effort to alleviate her migraines. The use of snuff quickly gained popularity among the French court and the upper-class citizens, becoming a fashionable trend. By the early 17th century, the practice of using nasal snuff had also spread to Sweden.^[34]

Tobacco use became so prevalent in Sweden that in 1724, King Fredrik I issued a decree mandating that Swedes cultivate their own tobacco. Consequently, farmers and homesteaders started grinding their own locally grown tobacco. However, rather than snorting it, they opted to mix it into a paste-like consistency and allowed it to ferment in jars for several weeks. The final product was then portioned and placed under the lip, eventually gaining popularity as snus.

Ljunglöf's Ettan is the oldest and most renowned brand, still utilizing the original formula from 1822. Jakob Fredrik Ljunglöf revolutionized the manufacturing process with pasteurization, resulting in longer-lasting, cleaner snus free from harmful elements, and significantly reducing production time by several weeks.^[35][36] In the years that followed, numerous manufacturers further perfected the art of producing snus, leading to the flourishing of many brands. Remarkably, several of these brands from that era continue to thrive in today's market.^{[citation needed]}

In 1914, the Swedish parliament made the decision to nationalize the entire tobacco industry. This led to the transformation of numerous tobacco companies into the state-owned monopoly known as AB Svenska Tobakmonopolet. As a result, the number of available tobacco products decreased significantly from approximately four hundred local brands to just seventeen, although these were now distributed nationwide. Consequently, employment within the industry experienced a fifty percent decline. In the 1960s, Sweden decided to abolish the import and sales monopoly on tobacco.^[37] AB Svenska Tobaksmonopolet later merged with the match manufacturer Swedish Match and was listed on the stock market in 1996.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Snus.