U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is pushing back against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) and his war against the popular brand of nicotine pouches called Zyn.
Recently, Schumer called for a crackdown on the Zyn pouches, asking the FDA and Federal Trade Commission to investigate the company over concerns about marketing and adverse health effects.
Zyn is a nicotine pouch designed to be placed under the lip and is marketed as a smoke-free, spit-free, hands-free method to "experience nicotine satisfaction anywhere, anytime." The pouches are multi-flavored and come in cans of 15.
Schumer's announcement swiftly drew the ire of conservative lawmakers and Zyn lovers nationwide.
On Wednesday, Tuberville bashed Schumer's comments, saying they exposed the Democrats' disordered legislative priorities.
"Well, It's ironic," Tuberville said. "I mean, you've got the guy that's supposed to be controlling the senate, and we should be talking about immigration and the economy, and wars all over the country and putting laws in that help American citizens, and He's talking about menthol cigarettes and Zyn."
Tuberville then held up a cool mint can of Zyn and began opining on the benefits he believes the product offers and how it has "saved a lot of people."
"It's kind of like a dip, but it's an alternative to smoking. I've talked to doctors on and on and on about vaping and Zyn and things like that to get people away from smoking cigarettes," he said. "And it has really changed the habit of many, many people and saved a lot of people. Now, is it perfect? No, it's not, but for what Senator Schumer is doing, in doing away with menthol cigarettes and doing away with Zyn, that really actually helps people, a lot better than smoking, instead of worrying about fentanyl that's coming across the border every day that's killing 100,000 people in the United States of America every year. For him to be worried about something other than that fentanyl shows you the direction that Schumer's headed and the direction that this Democratic, non-American party is headed. So, it's just absolutely amazing to me what I see every day."
In a statement to 1819 News, a representative of Phillip Morris International, whose affiliate manufacturer is Zyn, utterly rejected Schumer's claim.
"Philip Morris International and its affiliates — including Swedish Match, the manufacturer of ZYN — fully meet and exceed the regulations governing the industry," He said.
"Our marketing practices — which prohibit the use of social media influencers — are focused on preventing underage access and set the benchmark for the industry. Real-world evidence shows this approach is working: the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA show oral nicotine pouch use by those under the legal age remains exceptionally low."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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