Remember the vape craze that took over the United States and the whole world just a few years ago? And before that, so many people were used to smoking and saw it as some stylish thing to do, and sure enough, the vaping thing was a replacement for that. But it didn’t work out that well, so to replace vaping, now there is a new thing, which is to use small nicotine pouches that you place under your lip. And the whole idea is that since there is no smoke, it is not that bad or seen as just a common thing to get some high. Yes, Zyn is the company that is super famous for making these nicotine pouches, and now they’re on the verge of a Zyn Class Action Lawsuit. So, if you truly don’t know what is going on, you should at least hear about it once because it matters a lot, especially for the youth of the nation.
What Are Zyn Nicotine Pouches?
Zyn pouches are tiny bags packed with nicotine that you place between your gum and lip. Due to the fact that they do not produce smoke or vapor, a lot of grown-ups are employing them as a substitute for cigarettes. Nonetheless, their sweet-like flavors and fashionable image have also made them attractive to the youth.
One of the main factors for Zyn’s popularity was the way it promoted its products and the design of the packaging. This is also the matter of Baltimore’s opposition, as they claim these two factors are a major attraction for the underage users.
Who Filed the Lawsuit and When?
In June 2024, Baltimore City initiated legal proceedings against Swedish Match North America and Philip Morris USA. According to the city, the marketing of Zyn has led to a public health crisis by raising the youth’s nicotine addiction.
This problem is, however, not confined within the local boundaries, like there may be other cities and states that can submit similar lawsuits to rip this into a bigger fight for Zyn.
What’s the Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit filed by Baltimore revolves around three main themes:
- Targeting Kids: According to the city, Zyn deliberately selected flavors and promoted its product through social media influencers in order to attract teenagers.
- Misleading Marketing: On the basis of Zyn’s aim to portray its pouches as a “less harmful” nicotine source without disclosing the addiction risks, the company is accused of misleading consumers.
- Easy Access: The legal action also asserts that Zyn had insufficient measures in place to stop minors from buying the products either online or at the stores.
Why Are Health Experts Concerned?
One of the reasons health experts are concerned is that each Zyn pouch can have as much as 6 milligrams of nicotine, which is quite a high concentration for a new user of nicotine. Experts suggest the possibility of teens getting so addicted to these pouches that they would have a similar dependency on vaping, just like the vaping crisis that happened a few years back.
What is the Legal Basis?
Baltimore is relying on the Consumer Protection Act of Maryland, under which companies are not allowed to mislead their customers. The city is also charging Zyn with the production of a public nuisance because the company is alleged to be a source of youth nicotine addiction.
This is a comparable strategy to those lawsuits that were brought against cigarette companies historically.
What is the Current Status of the Case?
By the end of July 2024, the matter is still open. Baltimore is asking for monetary penalties and wants Zyn to put an end to the use of the advertising methods that may be injurious to minors.
Moreover, if any states or cities decide to support this, the case might become a massive class action lawsuit that could be filed anywhere in the country.
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