Swedish Match under fire....

[MN_Snuser]

Tobacco company Swedish Match has been accused of adding a substance to moist snuff or 'snus' to purposely increase user dependency and, in turn, boosts sales of their products.

http://www.thelocal.se/22864/20091025/

[spirit72]

Well, I dunno about all that. What I *can* say for certain, though, is that I am far less dependent on snus than I was on cigarettes.

Then again, I'm not a constant stark user, they're a now and then thing for me.

[desirexe]

I think that substance was umm...nicotine???

Disclaimer: Just being a smartass! I didn't even read the article BEFORE posting...

[JPono]

I'm not sure how they can call it a "secret ingredient" in the article when it's listed right on the can. Isn't E500 just an acidity regulator? It's in all brands and types of snus, not just Swedish Match products.

[chadizzy1]

E500 is sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate when used as an acidity regulator or a raising agent.

[sagedil]

Umm...technically, I suppose you can say that yes, it can "add to dependence" as it is directly related to how much nicotine is absorbed...ie, all our discussions here on the effects pf PH. But wow, how freakin lame, and EVEY snus maker regulates PH, not just SM. Just a freakin attack article

[chadizzy1]

I noticed that, if you read the associated articles as well, and the comments therein, seems to be a bunch of haters.

[spirit72]

I noticed that, if you read the associated articles as well, and the comments therein, seems to be a bunch of haters.

Yeah, there's a sucker born every minute.

[skruf_mcgruff]

I think E500 is also used to prevent the ingrediants from balling up or mixing unevenly, and unless swedish match is the only company using it, I don't see the problem or any validity to this accusation.

[justintempler]

Idiots! How can an ingedient that is right on the label be considered secret? :roll: Next question don't they know what the difference is between, regular portion, Sterk portion, and Ekstra Sterk. What did they think Swedish Match used darker ink on the Sterks? Of course Sterks have more nicotine.

One reason sterks are popular is because governemnts tax tobacco by weight and not nicotine content. Norway has very high taxes and that is where sterks are launched. Why? Becasue people that have to pay $10 bucks for a can of snus will buy the stronger snus because it lasts longer.

If I'm paying $10 bucks for a can of snus and I have a choice between 8mg and 16mg, I'll choose the 16mg snus everytime. Only idiots think it's a secret ingredient. :roll:

[MojoQuestor]

I suspect what we have here is a professional ax-grinder at work.

Maybe Connolly really does think he's doing good, and maybe he really even is. But my suspicion is that he's a lot like your average televangelist. He gets to come across as a warrior of the light while doing all this to make his bones.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...ry_N._Connolly

[bakerbarber]

LOL

The tactics that people resort to never ceases to amaze me.

People just feel compelled to smear dung on things they disagree with by any means nessecary.

[RRK]

I think E500 is also used to prevent the ingrediants from balling up or mixing unevenly, and unless swedish match is the only company using it, I don't see the problem or any validity to this accusation.

Everyone uses it and SM says they use it to control ph and for taste. The reason to control ph is, as others have stated, to regulate nicotine absorption.

[snusjus]

What is this "secret" substance? Oh wait, there is none. The ingredient that is "secretly" added to snus is listed on every single can! As well, E500 is used in every type of snus, whether Swedish Match manufactured it or not.

The argument that Swedish Match is doubling nicotine levels is irrelevant, since these products are differentiated from the standard 8mg product as "Sterk, Extra Sterk, etc...). There is a demand for higher nicotine products, so Swedish Match is doing nothing more than keeping up with consumer demands.

[justintempler]

Next the anti-tobacco Nazis will do an expose on Anheuser Busch and release a report how they secretly add more sugar and yeast to raise the alcohol content of beer. :roll: