
Health and science


Pouch users ‘at risk of taking in more nicotine than smokers’ – German study
8th November 2022 - News analysis |
Using nicotine pouches can lead to higher nicotine intake than smoking, according to Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)


US Gallup poll shows cigarette smoking down, cannabis consumption up
18th October 2022 - News analysis |
Smoking cigarettes is going out of fashion, but having smoked cannabis is becoming much more common in the US, according to recent research conducted by analytics and polling firm Gallup

Coming soon to a nicotine product near you – the correlation/causation fallacy
13th October 2022 - Blog |
As novel nicotine products grow in popularity, it’s only a matter of time before false links are drawn between them and the use of some other substance, be it cannabis or combustible tobacco or saturated fats


‘Everyone practises harm reduction, so why not for tobacco?’ ask health experts
13th September 2022 - News analysis |
Scientists need to communicate more effectively with politicians and the public to ensure the US overcomes a long-held prohibitionist mindset on tobacco harm reduction, according to some public health experts


The pros and cons of a menthol tobacco ban raise strong feelings on both sides
5th September 2022 - News analysis |
A proposed US ban on menthol cigarettes and flavoured cigars, which would also apply to heated tobacco products – currently regulated as conventional cigarettes – has stirred up strong passions either way

Choice of Delnevo to head US FDA tobacco science committee is warmly received
1st September 2022 - News analysis |
Cristine Delnevo, the new chair of the US FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC), has been hailed as an “objective, thoughtful scientist” with an understanding of research into harm reduction


Banned as a novel food? One day tobacco might be accepted as a super-food
18th August 2022 - Blog |
While nicotine pouches are classed in the EU as food products with an unauthorised ingredient, it could be argued that there is nothing novel about tobacco, or nicotine, in food – and it could have an important future too

Report rubbishes ‘reduced harm’ claims…
17th August 2022 - Alerts | Central America, North America, South America |

Lack of solid science stokes fears and doubts over safety of nicotine pouches
16th August 2022 - News analysis |
While nicotine pouches are growing in popularity fast, the state of science on their safety remains threadbare

Tobacco studies director to chair FDA science advisory committee…
10th August 2022 - Alerts | North America, United States |

Who, and where, is the science on novel tobacco products coming from?
10th August 2022 - Blog |
Scientific research into novel nicotine alternatives has so far largely focused on vaping, but that is likely to change as the products become more widespread

Huge disparities in access to stop-smoking services across England
8th July 2022 - News analysis |
Public health in the north of England continues to be ignored in favour of supporting more affluent and Tory-leaning areas in the south and Midlands, according to a new survey

Statement on toxicity of nicotine pouches ‘due by autumn’…
7th July 2022 - Alerts | Europe, United Kingdom |

Snus ‘better than WHO policy’ at cutting smoking deaths, says study author
4th July 2022 - News analysis |
The author of a new study linking snus with smoking cessation has called on the World Health Organization “to move from rejecting tobacco harm reduction to promoting it”

Swedish innovator proposes concrete solution to nicotine pouch drawbacks
27th June 2022 - News analysis |
Innovation in nicotine pouches – better release profile, longer lasting flavour and effect – is coming from an unexpected area… the remarkable world of concrete

Meeting on e-cig and heated tobacco regulations cancelled…
22nd June 2022 - Alerts | Brazil, South America |

UK’s Khan report pleases vape advocates, all but ignores other tobacco alternatives
16th June 2022 - News analysis |
Recognition of the role vaping can play in the future of public health in England has been welcomed – but there is some disappointment that the positive approach does not extend to other alternatives to smoking

Nicotine pouches don’t escape WHO’s World No Tobacco Day campaign debate
3rd June 2022 - News analysis |
On international World No Tobacco Day tobacco alternatives such as pouches were not excluded from the criticisms

Health, environment damage: alternative tobacco products ‘are not the solution’
3rd June 2022 - News analysis |
Next-generation tobacco products are not the solution to damage caused by the tobacco industry to both public health and the environment, according to speakers at a World Health Organization (WHO) conference



How much are tobacco companies really doing to support harm reduction?
31st May 2022 - Blog |
Most tobacco companies are keen to be seen supporting the concept of harm reduction, especially through reduced-risk products like e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn and pouches. But how far is their support for the idea actually having an effect on their activities right now, as well as their future direction?




WHO’s antagonism to tobacco-based vaccine could hinder anti-Covid efforts
25th May 2022 - Blog |
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s rejection of a new Covid-19 vaccine on anti-tobacco grounds will almost certainly end up having a negative impact on public health – particularly in the developing world

Are novel nicotine products a ‘huge distraction’ from the real problem?
19th May 2022 - Blog |
Speaking at the launch of the seventh edition of the Atlas, US public health scholar Jeffrey Drope suggested that new nicotine technologies are “a huge distraction” which have “confused governments, the public health community and the public”