Do hot conditions during shipment of snus increase TSNA?

[jon108]

I recently placed my first order with GetSnus.com and ordered all portions snus. It came UPS. I left for work around 8:00 am and it had not arrived yet. I live in Georgia and it was very hot that day. When I came home during my lunch break around 1:00 pm the box was on the door step facing the sun. When I opened it, the cans were very warm from the heat (not sure how long it had been there). I noticed the first portion I had was a lot more juicy then usual (I usually spit the juice out except when I'm at work).

1. Can this affect TSNA levels? Is it still safe to use the snus (about $50 worth). I didn't notice a bad taste or get sick from what I've used so far but I was concerned about the health risks from snus that has been in hot conditions too long.

2. Does anyone know of a snus distributor that ships it cold (dry ice)? Thanks.

[lxskllr]

Being shipped warm doesn't negatively affect the snus. TSNA levels don't raise appreciably with age, or temperature. They go up slightly, but not enough to matter.

[outsidelinebacker20]

Don`t sweat it. Think of all the stuff that happens to it that you don`t know about. I have never refrigerated anything I have chewed. The storage advice on the back is a best case scenario. They say the same thing about prescription drugs and you know they are not stored or shipped in refrigerated trucks and warehouses. I am sure SM does not spend the money on refrigerated warehouses and trucks either. Remember what they said about Coors. Finally, they had to admit it was all marketing hype. Keep it cold if you are going to store it for long periods of time. The rest really does not matter much. I just don`t leave it in the car in the summer because it dries it out.
Kevin

[Markus and Joakim]

The low levels of nitrosamines in Swedish snus are not affected by the temperature at which the finished product is kept. This is related to the fact that the product is heat-treated so that there is no microbial activity which is in contrast to fermented, American moist snuff products. The main problem if snus is not kept refrigerated is that the moisture content decreases and there might also be some lowering of the pH level. However, this is a process that takes weeks to months. Therefore, you can safely leave snus unrefrigerated for a few days without any noticeable effects. If you want to keep snus for a longer period it should be deep frozen. In a standard kitchen freezer, snus will stay fresh almost indefinitely. Please note that when you want to thaw deep frozen snus in pouches, it should be done in a fridge to decrease problems with melting ice crystals beneath the pouch paper. Such melting crystals may slightly discolor the pouch paper. With loose snus you don't have that potential problem.

BR
J&M

[RobsanX]

The low levels of nitrosamines in Swedish snus are not affected by the temperature at which the finished product is kept. This is related to the fact that the product is heat-treated so that there is no microbial activity which is in contrast to fermented, American moist snuff products. The main problem if snus is not kept refrigerated is that the moisture content decreases and there might also be some lowering of the pH level. However, this is a process that takes weeks to months. Therefore, you can safely leave snus unrefrigerated for a few days without any noticeable effects. If you want to keep snus for a longer period it should be deep frozen. In a standard kitchen freezer, snus will stay fresh almost indefinitely. Please note that when you want to thaw deep frozen snus in pouches, it should be done in a fridge to decrease problems with melting ice crystals beneath the pouch paper. Such melting crystals may slightly discolor the pouch paper. With loose snus you don't have that potential problem.

BR
J&M

Great explanation! Thanks!