1 of 2 | E-cigarettes and other tobacco products are pictured on display in a New York store in 2014. On Tuesday, the FDA recommended that manufacturers of nicotine pouches use child-resistant packaging. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it recommends nicotine pouch manufacturers use child-resistant packaging to protect children from harmful exposure.
From April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025, the number of reported nicotine pouch exposure cases reported to U.S. Poison Centers steadily increased. About 72% of nicotine pouch exposure cases were in children under 5, an FDA press release said.
“I am concerned about rising reports of nicotine exposures in young children caused by nicotine pouches,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary in a statement. “The fruity flavors and bright, colorful designs of nicotine pouch products could resemble candy and seem attractive to children. Manufacturers should consider what steps they can take to prevent accidental exposures and ingestion.”
Nicotine is a highly toxic chemical, and a small dose in children easily could exceed a fatal dose, a 2013 study suggested.
Nicotine pouches contain as much as 6 milligrams of the stimulant and are often promoted as a tobacco-free or other alternative to smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco.
The FDA in January approved the marketing of Zyn nicotine pouch products. Officials said the 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products met the public health standard that weighs risks and benefits; current and potential use by consumers; and the methods, facilities and controls used to manufacture the products.
A study published in July in “Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said from 2010-2023 that U.S. poison centers reported about 135,000 cases of nicotine poisoning among children under 6.
And among the number of calls, two deaths were linked to kids younger than 6 in that 13-year time span. It added that, from 2020-2023, there was a 763% rise in calls involving nicotine.
The FDA also issued guidance on how users can safely store nicotine pouch products to protect children and pets from exposure.
