Snus

Snus is a traditional Scandinavian smokeless tobacco product, used particularly in Sweden, where it is widely used by men. Snus has been regulated as a food product under the Swedish Food Act since the 1970s.¹ It is banned in other EU countries but is available in the US.²

Image 1: General snus (Source: Swedish Match)

Background

Snus is available loose, or portioned in pouches resembling tiny tea bags (Image 1), and consumed by placing a pinch, or the pouch, or between the gum and upper lip for a period of time.³ Ingredients include tobacco, sodium carbonate, moisturisers, and flavourings.³

Unlike other smokeless tobacco, snus has a relatively high nicotine delivery and absorption, and relatively lower levels of harmful substances.⁴ The lower levels of toxins are generally attributed to how it is manufactured and stored.⁵

The so-called ‘Swedish Experience’ attributes Sweden’s low smoking prevalence, and resulting low occurrence of smoking related diseases, to high rates of snus use among Swedish men.

• For details see Swedish Experience

However a 2020 review by Norway’s Institute of Public Health identified a potential underestimation of health impacts.⁶⁷ A pooled analysis from Sweden, published in 2021, identified an association between snus use among men and increased mortality.⁸

Snus is commonly used along with cigarettes.⁹¹⁰¹¹ Dual use does not effectively safeguard health.¹²

Research indicates that snus use probably increases the risk of:

• type 2 diabetes,¹³
• oral lesions,¹⁴¹⁵
• osophogeal cancer,¹⁴⁶ and
• preterm birth.^6161718

Evidence conflicts on the link between snus use and:

• pancreatic cancer,¹⁴¹⁹
• cardio vascular disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.^6202122

Cigarette companies investing in snus

From 2002, large transnational tobacco companies increasingly invested in snus, and more recently, nicotine pouches which do not contain tobacco leaf.

Philip Morris International (PMI) gained significant interests in both products when it acquired Swedish Match in 2022. 

• For more information on these investments, see Cigarette Companies Investing in Snus.

Tobacco companies have also conducted, commissioned and funded research on these products.^232425262728

Swedish Match developed its own quality standard for snus, called Gothiatek.²⁹³⁰

Product regulation

The European ban on snus sales has been repeatedly legally challenged by the industry, and a strong lobby from Sweden.

• For more information see Snus: EU Ban on Snus Sales

As of 2022 snus continues to be banned from sale across Europe outside of Sweden. A 2013 TCRG study found there was relatively little control on promotions and illegal snus sales via the Internet.³¹

• For detailed, up to date information on regulation at country level, see the searchable database on the Tobacco Control Laws website, published by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK).
• The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) webpage on Smokeless Tobacco Products links to detailed information on US regulations.
• For countries that are parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) progress towards implementation of relevant articles, including newer products, is detailed in the FCTC implementation database.³²

Use in Sport

There are concerns that snus may be becoming more popular among some groups of young people, particularly men, outside Sweden.¹⁰ Use of snus by footballers who play internationally,³³³⁴ has led to both concerns around their own health,³⁵³⁶ and the possible impact of increasing attractiveness to youth.³³³⁷

Note that in some cases snus may be confused with nicotine pouches, which do not contain tobacco leaf, especially in countries which do not have a tradition of snus use.

TobaccoTactics Resources

• Cigarette Companies Investing in Snus
• Snus: EU Ban on Snus Sales
• Snus: Marketing to Youth
• Pro-snus bloggers: Tim Haigh, Lars-Erik Rutqvist
• A list of pages in the category Snus
• Smokeless Tobacco
• Nicotine Pouches
• Harm Reduction
• Newer Nicotine and Tobacco Products

TCRG Research

• Transnational Tobacco Company Interests in Smokeless Tobacco in Europe: Analysis of Internal Industry Documents and Contemporary Industry Materials, S. Peeters, A.B. Gilmore, PLoS Medicine, 2013; 10(9):1001506
• How online sales and promotion of snus contravenes current European Union legislation, S. Peeters, A.B. Gilmore, Tobacco Control, 2013; 22:266-273

For a comprehensive list of all TCRG publications, including TCRG research that evaluates the impact of public health policy, go to the Bath TCRG’s list of publications.