The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week approved the sale of four types of nicotine pods produced by Helix Innovations LLC, the agency said. The decision was made as part of the FDA's pilot program to expedite applications from nicotine pouch manufacturers.
Nicotine pouches are small packets that are placed between the gum and lip. The nicotine they contain is absorbed through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The products also usually contain flavorings, sweeteners and other substances, the World Health Organization (WHO) website notes.
According to the FDA statement, four new types of spiderweed containing 2 to 4 mg of the substance have received approval in the United States. The agency's evaluation found that the products contain fewer harmful and potentially harmful ingredients than other smokeless tobacco products. The FDA called the approvals “a step toward expanding access to products that can help adult smokers quit cigarettes entirely.”
The number of such products that have recently received FDA approval has reached 30. The brands whose products have been approved for sale by the agency belong to subsidiaries of two of the largest tobacco corporations in the world – Philip Morris International and Altria Group. Helix Innovations LLC, in particular, is part of the Altria Group, notes CBS News.
The rise of nicotine pods is of concern to public health experts due to their potential appeal to children and adolescents and legal gaps.
The American Heart Association (AHA) criticized the FDA's position, noting that the new approvals are being issued as part of a pilot program, the mechanism of which, according to the organization, “was never adequately explained.”
“By allowing the sale of these flavored nicotine pods while leaving key questions about their review process unanswered, the FDA appears to be ignoring evidence that the tobacco industry uses flavored products and other tactics to attract youth and make them addicted to harmful products,” the AHA said in a statement.
CBS News calls nicotine pouches the fastest-growing segment of the US tobacco market. According to an analysis by the CDC Foundation, from January 2023 to August 2025, their monthly sales increased by 250%.
The popularity of spiders is facilitated by their active promotion, including at the state level. Last week, a video of ZYN nicotine spiders appeared on the White House TikTok account. Some public figures have also spoken positively about this alternative to cigarettes, including TV host Tucker Carlson and US Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr. The former even launched his own brand of tobacco-free nicotine pouches, Alp.
In the United States, you must be 21 years old to buy nicotine pouches. However, according to the latest National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 460,000 middle and high school students reported using them last year. Thus, among American youth, pouches have become the second most common category of tobacco products after electronic cigarettes.
“Authorities are seeing how the use of these products is spreading rapidly, especially among teenagers and young adults, who are being targeted by aggressive and misleading marketing tactics. These products are designed to be addictive, so it is vital to protect young people from industry manipulation,” said WHO spokesman Etienne Krug.
According to WHO, approximately 160 countries do not have specific regulations for these products, while 16 countries have a sales ban.
“The use of nicotine pouches is spreading rapidly, while regulation has not kept pace with market growth. Governments need to act now with strong protection measures based on scientific evidence,” said Vinay Prasad, head of the WHO Tobacco Control Initiative.
