Swedish Match under fire in secret snus substance investigation

Published: 25 Oct 09 11:51 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22864/20091025/

Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation

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.

Swedish Match profit rise just misses target (27 Oct 09)
Sweden wants EU 'snus' tobacco ban to go up in smoke (15 Sep 09)
Profits on the march at Swedish Match (17 Jul 09)

Since 2005, the company has introduced eight new snus products with higher than average nicotine levels.

The usual level for snus is eight milligrams per gram. In one product, levels have almost doubled that figure.

”Certain consumer groups have shown demand for a high nicotine content,” the company’s production director Torbjörn Åkeson explains.

Allegations that the company adds a substance, known as E500, to purposely increase the amount of so-called ‘free’ nicotine – which increases dependency – are presented in a new report by investigative news programme Kalla Fakta.

Swedish Match deny the use of the substance for such purposes.

”We use it to stabilise the pH value in snus and have done so for 200 years,” information director Henrik Brehmer told the programme.

”There is no secret substance in snus.”

Yet, Professor Greg Connolly at the Harvard School of Public Health believes that Swedish Match is consciously using the substance to increase addiction and their profits.

”In a study in 2008 he concluded that we are manipulating the pH value, something that we consider hugely speculative,” Brehmer adds.

”It never led to demands from any authority that we need to change something.”

There are around one million snus users in Sweden. Last year Swedish Match sold products amounting to four billion kronor.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It!	Digg This	Facebook	Share everywhere
Send to a friend	Printable version	Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:10 October 26, 2009 by martell

Here is what E500 is:

Natriumcarbonate (Soda)

Dinatriumcarbonate (Soda)

Natriumbicarbonate (Natron)

Natriumhydrogencarbonate (Natron)

Natriumsesquicarbonate (crystalline mix of Soda and Natron)

Among many products, this additive is used in

- baking powder

- chocolates and cocoa preparations

- soured cream butter

- table waters.

All of these are legal additives for substances for human consumption within the EU in an amount which is not more than necessary to reach the desired effect (quantum satis).

Exemptions from use are within substances for human consumption, namely

- untreated substances

- substances which legally must not altered through additives.

As snus is legal in Sweden, I cannot see anything illegal the company has done.

Report abuse »

21:43 October 26, 2009 by Swedish Angst

This is such a cheap piece of non-news.

Swedish snus is regulated by food laws, and there are no secret ingredients. Anyone can find out what ingredients there are in snus, since they are easy to find on Swedish Match's website.

E500 is one of the ingredients that has been in use in Swedish snus for 200 years. No news there.

Since a couple of years, there are snus products with higher nicotine levels on the market, targeting consumers that want a bigger nicotine delivery from their snus. These are called e.g. "Skruf Strong," "General Extra Strong" etc. No news there either.

Basically, this is a 200 years old story about something that has never been a secret.

Duh.

http://swedishangst.blogspot.com/2009/10/breaking-news-nicotine-found-in-snus.html

http://swedishangst.blogspot.com/2009/10/tv4-fail-public-health-industry-silent.html

Report abuse »

Today's headlines

Three arrested for killing of Swedish soldiers

Three men have been arrested in Afghanistan on suspicion of being connected to the the death of Swedish soldiers Johan Palmlöv and Gunnar Andersson near Mazar-e Sharif on Sunday. READ (9 COMMENTS) »

Parental 'child sick leave' peaks in February

Each February, Swedish parents take an estimated 600,000 paid leave days to take care of sick children, according to new Social Insurance Agency statistics. READ »

'Only good foreign soldier on Afghan soil is a dead one': Jan Myrdal

'Only good foreign soldier on Afghan soil is a dead one': Myrdal

Swedish author and anti-war activist Jan Myrdal has sparked outrage following a public lecture in which he appeared to welcome the killing of Swedish, US and other soldiers. READ »

Sharp increase in asylum seeker deportations

The number of asylum seekers deported from Sweden rose by 1,300 during 2009, according to new figures from the Swedish Migration Agency. READ »

Dental service probed as girl dies after toothache

The Swedish Welfare Board is set to investigate the Swedish Public Dental Service after a nine-year-old girl died following repeated visits to the dentist complaining of toothache and an abscess. READ »

Ingrid, 79, declared dead by Swedish tax authorities

79-year-old Ingrid Ståhl of Malmö in southern Sweden found out to her surprise that she had been registered as dead after a mistake by the Swedish Tax Agency. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Söderling claims comeback win

Swedish tennis star Robin Söderling showed no signs of the elbow complaint which knocked him out of the Australian Open, firing 26 aces to earn a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Frenchman Florent Serra on Monday in the Rotterdam Open. READ »

Man shot on Stockholm street

A 29-year-old man was shot on Södermalm in Stockholm on Monday night. He was hit in the leg and in the shoulder, but was able to call an ambulance. No one has been arrested as the man refuses to talk to the police. READ (1 COMMENT) »

More National

Today's most read Today's most commented

Latest news from The Local in Germany

Blog

Latest features from Sweden.se

5 questions for Diana Orving
Diana Orving’s line consists of organic yet edgy fashion. The garments are delicate and luxurious. Both structured and deconstructed elements coexist in many of her pieces and produce a surprising...
5 questions for The Local Firm
The Local Firm is a young independent label created by Richard Hutchinson and Axel Nyhage that is based in Stockholm. The label has a reputation for a refreshing viewpoint on fashion. Drawing...
5 questions for Kerstin Ekman
Swedish author Kerstin Ekman started writing detective novels, then moved on to more psychological and social themes. In September 2009 she released her latest novel Mordets praktik. Sweden.se asked...
The Swedish Model in practice
The term “Swedish Model” is used to describe the fact that the Swedish society is based on a high degree of public financing. Let’s find out what this means in practice by following a regular...

Essentials

Jobs - in Sweden, in English
Get your career on track with our job listings from Sweden's top employers.

Property - renting or buying in Sweden
Navigating the minefield of renting or buying an apartment or house in Sweden.

Weather
"There is no bad weather, just bad clothes," say the Swedes. Here's the forecast for everyone else.

Introducing...
Every week The Local serves up a spicy helping of Swedish celebrity for your delectation.

Stockholm Syndrome
Tales of crazy Swedish classes, hamfisted attempts to understand - and explain - real Swedes, and varied experiences of fellow foreigners gathered for your amusement.

Jobs in Sweden, in English

124 jobs in Sweden, in English
53 new jobs this week
20 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Noticeboard

SHOW ALL NOTICES »

Discuss

23:29 Sweden and LPG cars
23:15 Getting a dog in Sweden
22:17 Emigrating a Swede: Q & A
22:03 New father to be
21:55 Moving out of Stockholm
21:41 How shallow and insecure are Swedes?
21:19 Help to find doctor
21:16 None is talking about Influenza
20:35 Teaching English In Sweden
20:14 British TV in Sweden

FULL INDEX »
JUST THE NEWS »
LATEST TOPICS »

Expatriate in Stockholm?
We offer services for foreigners who've recently moved or are planning to move to Stockholm. Corresponding with local authorities, organizing your home, seeking childcare and domestic help, plus more.
MORE INFO

Counseling in English Individuals & Couples - Stockholm
Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now

Visiting Stockholm?
Then you'll find The Local's new Stockholm Section useful. Find pics, guides, news and lots of useful information about Stockholm.
www.thelocal.se/stockholm

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS

Welcome to Adlon Hotel in Stockholm
A perfect location both for business and pleasure. Centrally located, with atmosphere.
www.adlon.se

Winter archipelago tours
Visit Stockholm's beautiful archipelago. Great boat tours for all preferences.
MORE INFORMATION

Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English
David Schultz PsyD
Individuals & couples
In Stockholm in person or by phone or video conferencing
www.anxiousorblue.se

Play football in Stockholm
Kick-off the new football season with LFC, Stockholm's premier English-speaking football club.
MORE INFO

JOB: Trainee Sales Executives
Midfield Media, a leading provider of events and executive forums, is seeking Trainee Sales Executives
FULL JOB DETAILS

Enjoy a beautiful winter weekend in Västervik
Treat yourself with a calm and relaxing weekend in beautiful archipelago surroundings
MORE INFORMATION

JOB: Copy editor and English speaking project manager/editor
Tidningskompaniet, one of Sweden's leading agencies for custom publishing, seeks two new employees in Stockholm and Göteborg
FULL JOB DETAILS

Folk High Schools in Sweden
The Swedish Folk High Schools have courses that give you the possibility to bring out all your colors!
www.folkhogskola.nu

Advertise