Senator John Fetterman voiced opposition to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's call for a federal crackdown on Zyn nicotine products in remarks to Newsweek.
Schumer, a New York Democrat, last week held a press conference warning about Zyn, a nicotine pouch. He is urging the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission to probe the product's health effects and marketing, warning that he believes the product is being marketed to teenagers on social media.
"It is a pouch packed with problems—high levels of nicotine. So today, I'm delivering a warning to parents because these nicotine pouches seem to lock their sights on young kids. Teenagers and even lower, and then use the social media to hook them," Schumer said.
Zyn is a pouch containing nicotine powder that is intended to rest in a user's mouth while the stimulant is absorbed into their bloodstream.
Schumer said during the press conference he believes the company is using minty and citrusy flavors to market the product to children and teenagers while also warning that "Zynfluencers" on social media are raising its popularity among youth. Dr. Mike Varshavski said during the press conference many users falsely believe Zyn is part of nicotine replacement therapy.
Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has broken from his party on some issues, told Newsweek he disagrees with Schumer's calls to crack down on the nicotine product.
"I'm a big believer in choice for Americans, and I believe every adult should be having these kinds of choices with these kinds of products as well. Tobacco is legal, and that kills over half a million Americans. Alcohol is legal and kills lots of people. I would err on the side of freedom and not restricting that."
A spokesperson for Philip Morris International, the parent company of Zyn, told Newsweek the company "fully" meets and exceeds industry regulations.
"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," the company wrote in a statement.
Newsweek also reached out to Schumer's office for comment via email.
Zyn says on its website that the company takes "the issue of underage usage extremely seriously," requiring "strict age verification" to enter its website. It states that the product is "for adult nicotine consumers 21+ only."
Several Republicans took aim at Schumer's warning on social media.
"Come and take it, Chuck," Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, posted to X (formerly Twitter) alongside a photograph of Zyn on what appears to be a table or desk.
"Hey, Chuck, the border is out of control, and Senate Dems are refusing to take up H.R. 2. Maybe we can start there instead of trying to ban Zyn and mess with consumers' rights," posted Representative Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican.
"This calls for a Zynsurrection! The same Democrats that want to legalize all drugs and have ripped open our border flooding our country with fentanyl, a real weapon of mass destruction killing 300 Americans/day, wants to ban Zyn. Democrats are idiots," posted Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican.
Update 01/24/2024 4:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more
