“She Thought It Was Candy”: The Shocking Rise of Nicotine Poisonings in Toddlers—Fueled by Zyn
The ambulance arrived too late. A two-year-old had slipped behind the couch and popped a small, mint-scented pouch into her mouth. She thought it was candy. It was Zyn.
While parents are warned about choking hazards and sharp edges, one silent threat is flying under the radar—nicotine pouches like Zyn. Marketed as clean, discreet, and tobacco-free, their popularity is exploding among youth and adults alike. But beneath the sleek branding lies a disturbing truth: these pouches are turning homes into danger zones for babies and toddlers.
Poisonings Are Skyrocketing—And It’s No Accident
From 2020 to 2023, poison control centers across the U.S. saw a 760% increase in calls involving children under six exposed to nicotine pouches. Over 1,600 cases resulted in serious medical outcomes, including seizures, heart irregularities, and respiratory failure. Two children lost their lives after ingesting liquid nicotine.
This isn’t a warning—it’s a red siren.
What Makes Zyn So Dangerous?
High nicotine content: A single pouch can contain up to 6 mg of nicotine—more than a cigarette.
Appealing flavors: Citrus, mint, berry—they smell good enough for toddlers to mistake for candy.
Unsecured packaging: Most containers are NOT childproof and are often stored in handbags or left on countertops.
Fast absorption: When ingested, nicotine acts quickly—triggering vomiting, tremors, confusion, and in extreme cases, unconsciousness or death.
Young Bodies Are Especially Vulnerable
A toddler's metabolism makes nicotine hit harder and faster. Their small size means even one pouch can overwhelm their system—leading to symptoms like:
Sudden vomiting and drooling
Dizziness or seizures
Shallow breathing
Loss of consciousness
And because symptoms can appear rapidly, immediate emergency care is crucial.
From Teen Trend to Household Hazard
Zyn is now the second-most-used nicotine product among youth. Its rise has normalized pouch usage among teens and young adults, which means homes are increasingly filled with these products—slipped in backpacks, left on nightstands, tucked into purses. These become invisible threats in environments toddlers explore daily.
If you’ve got a teen in the house, or you use Zyn yourself, look around. Your baby could be seconds away from danger.
What Parents Must Do—Immediately
Store all nicotine products in locked containers out of reach and out of sight.
Talk to older kids: Make sure they understand the risk and never leave pouches lying around.
Recognize the signs: Vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, or seizures demand immediate action.
Call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 — save it, share it, know it.
Accountability Can't Wait Any Longer
Zyn went from $709,000 in sales in 2016 to over $216 million by 2020. This growth was fueled by aggressive marketing, youth-friendly flavors, and a disturbingly casual image. It's NOT approved by the FDA as a tool to quit smoking. Its packaging isn’t child-resistant. And its meteoric rise is leaving a trail of preventable tragedies.
This is more than poor oversight—it's a public health failure. We need regulation. We need industry responsibility. We need packaging that protects, not just profits.
For more information, help, and resources, please visit www.steeredstraight.org or call (856) 691-6676
Our mission is to steer youth straight toward making sound, rational decisions through a learning experience that provides a message of reality to help them make positive, informed choices.
