Former FDA toxicologist says agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches without fully knowing their composition

Former FDA toxicologist Christy Leppanen alleges the agency authorized Zyn nicotine pouches without complete safety data on the pouch material.

Leppanen, who led a microplastics exposure project at the Center for Tobacco Products, says she was told the pouches melt in the mouth, but an academic at a late‑2024 public health conference suggested otherwise.

After the conference she purchased a menthol‑flavored Zyn can, performed informal tests at home-soaking the pouches in saliva, microwaving them, and crushing them-to assess whether they could shed microplastics.

The FDA allowed Zyn to be sold while its review was ongoing, and the allegations raise questions about potential gaps in the agency’s evaluation process.