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4d ago

Nicotine Pouch Poisonings in Young Children Surge 763%

Flavored high-dose nicotine pouches stored at home are driving a sharp uptick in serious ingestions among toddlers.

Containers of Zyn, a Phillip Morris smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand in New York. (BEBETO MATTHEWS/AP FILE)
LONDON ENGLAND - JUNE 23: In this photo illustration, Nicotine Pouchs are held on June 23 2025, London, England. (Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases and pouches are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling for federal action on ZYN, a popular nicotine pouch in the United States. The senator is asking the FTC and FDA to investigate the companies marketing and the health effects of the nicotine pouch. (Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Overview

  • A study in Pediatrics reports that nicotine pouch ingestion rates in children under 6 climbed from 0.48 to 4.14 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2023, marking a 763% rise.
  • Poison control centers logged 134,663 cases of nicotine poisoning in children under 6 from 2010 through 2023, with 76% involving infants and toddlers under age 2.
  • Nicotine pouches were 1.5 times as likely to cause serious health outcomes and twice as likely to prompt hospitalization compared to other nicotine products.
  • Nearly all reported ingestions occurred at home, including 39 cases with major medical effects and two fatalities in children under 2 who consumed liquid nicotine.
  • Researchers and pediatric experts call for child-resistant packaging, secure storage practices and federal regulation to curb preventable poisonings.