snus

Snus (, ; ) is a Swedish tobacco product. It is consumed by placing a pouch of powdered tobacco leaves under the lip for nicotine to be absorbed through the oral mucosa. Snus, not to be confused with nicotine pouches, consists of ground up tobacco leaves, salt, an alkalizer (e.g. sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate) and (optionally) flavorings. The final product is sold as both loose tobacco, and in portions with the tobacco mixture contained in a small teabag-like pouch.

The manufacturing process of snus differs from that of other oral tobacco products. Snus tobacco is heated and pasteurized rather than cured or fermented, resulting in a less harmful product which contains a lower concentration of TSNA carcinogens in comparison to other traditional tobacco products. Though research on the connection between snus and disease such as cancer is not conclusive, and some studies find no associations between snus consumption and an increased risk of cancer, some do suggest a link to risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer.

The warning text "causes cancer" was removed from snus packaging in Sweden and other countries because scientific evidence indicates that the cancer risk associated with snus is significantly lower than that of smoking. The shift in labeling aims to provide accurate information while still cautioning consumers about potential health concerns.

Nicotine products in general have been linked to reproductive harms such as stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight. Conversely, non-tobacco-based nicotine pouches (also known as "nic pouches") are classified as non-carcinogenic since nicotine itself is not a carcinogen. However, they are still harmful to cardiovascular health due to their nicotine content, and are associated with moderately higher risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and reproductive harms. The main causes for mortality from smoking including cardiovascular disease from the effects of smoke on vascular coagulation and blood vessel walls are not caused primarily by nicotine and hence not to be considered equal to the moderate cardiovascular health risks from nicotine pouches. The sale of tobacco-based snus is illegal in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and all European Union (EU) countries except for Sweden. Non-tobacco nicotine pouches are presently not regulated at EU-level. It is the most common type of tobacco product in Sweden and Norway and is also available in Switzerland. Some European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and Estonia, allow the sale of non-tobacco-based snus. Snus is also available in the United States.

Overview

Snus is made from air-dried/pasteurized tobaccos 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 such as Sodium Carbonate or Sodium Bicarbonate ( E500), and aroma, and is prepared through heating under pressure. 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. Unlike dipping tobacco and chew, most snus does not undergo the fermentation process, but is instead steam- pasteurized. Pasteurization inhibits 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 desired primary alkaloid in tobacco, greatly depends on the nicotine content in the snus and the pH of the final product. 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 containers of various sizes, originally 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.

Snus is available in two main types:
*Loose snus () 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 (), , , or (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.
*Portion snus () 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. Notably, "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.

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.

Usage

Snus is typically used by being placed under the upper lip. This is true for both loose snus and portion snus. The pris (pressed pellet of loose snus) or pouch is typically left in place for anywhere between 30 and 120 minutes. No spitting is required, but some (especially new users) may prefer to.

Snus is not cured, so it can spoil much faster than cured tobacco. While tobacco-based 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 tobacco-based 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.

Differences with other oral 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.
;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. American snus is often flavored, e.g., with spearmint, wintergreen, vanilla or fruit (e.g. cherry), and may contain sugar.
; Nasal snuff: Mostly English, German, and Scandinavian, this is referred to as in Swedish and in Norwegian, and as "Scotch snuff" 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. 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. Naswar contains nicotine, which can lead to addiction, and its use has been associated with increased risks of oral cancers, gum disease, and cardiovascular issues due to the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines and other harmful chemicals.

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.

Health risks

Various national and international health organizations stated that using snus is addictive, represents a health risk, has no safe level use, and is not a safe substitute for smoking. Using snus can cause a number of adverse health effects such as esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Snus can also 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 in the womb.

Quitting snus use is as challenging as smoking cessation. There is no scientific evidence that using snus can help a person quit smoking, although widespread snus-usage is correlated with lower rates of smoking.

History

Snus has a long history of use, reaching back to the 16th century and concentrated in Sweden. Its origin lies in an invention by Jean Nicot (1530–1600), a French diplomat residing in Portugal who cultivated tobacco in his garden, and was one of the pioneers in recognizing the medicinal properties of tobacco. Nicot is also the originor of the word nicotine. 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.

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.

Due to manual laborers typically working outside where frequent use of a dry, finely ground nasal snuff is not convenient, they opted to crush their tobaccos 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 for extended periods of time, eventually gaining popularity as snus.

Ettan is the still extant snus brand, which dates to 1822. Its founder, Jakob Fredrik Ljunglöf, introduced pasteurization into snus making, reducing production time by several weeks and preventing microbial contamination. In the years that followed, numerous manufacturers further improved of snus manufacturing, leading to the flourishing of many brands. Several of these brands from that era continue to exist.

In 1914, the Swedish parliament nationalised 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. AB Svenska Tobaksmonopolet later merged with the match manufacturer Swedish Match and was listed on the stock market in 1996.

See also

* Health effects of snus
* Nicotine pouch
* Pituri
* Röda Lacket

References

{{Reflist, 2

Swedish words and phrases
Tobacco products