FDA approves Zyn nicotine pouches: a controversial move in tobacco alternatives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given permission for Philip Morris International to sell its Zyn nicotine pouches. This is the first time the FDA has allowed the sale of nicotine pouches, which are becoming very popular in the U.S. tobacco market.

The FDA says Zyn is less harmful than cigarettes and chewing tobacco because it contains fewer harmful ingredients. However, the FDA's decision doesn't mean Zyn is safe, just that it's a less risky alternative to other tobacco products.

The FDA has also allowed the sale of other alternatives to cigarettes, such as e-cigarettes and snus, which is a type of tobacco popular in Scandinavian countries. These products are being developed as people are smoking cigarettes less and less.

Some groups are worried that nicotine pouches will become popular with young people, just like e-cigarettes did. They point to videos on social media where young people are using Zyn and other similar products.

People who support nicotine pouches argue that they work in the same way as nicotine gum and lozenges, which are designed to help people stop smoking. They say that Zyn releases small amounts of nicotine that are absorbed through the gums, which reduces cravings for cigarettes.