| Tobacco was introduced to Europe by Christopher | | | | Apart from Sweden, where it is extremely popular, |
| Columbus. Since then several tobacco products | | | | snus has yet to prove its success in other parts of the |
| appeared, with the cigarettes being the most famous | | | | world. It has only recently been introduced in North |
| ones. Swedish snus is a type of tobacco that first | | | | America, with no important feedback from consumers |
| appeared in the 16th century. Since then it has had a | | | | yet. This may be caused by the strong snuff tradition |
| high quality that cannot be found anywhere else; as | | | | in North America (tobacco that is sniffed up the nose) |
| well as that, Swedish snus is distinctive from any nasal | | | | or by the health issues concerning this product. |
| snuff products that are used anywhere else in the | | | | Having a history of 200 years, snus demand fell during |
| world. | | | | the fifties and sixties; however, in 1969 smokeless |
| There are two types of snus: loose and portion | | | | tobacco consumption rose again, making it a healthier |
| packed. Both of these types can come in a variety of | | | | alternative to smoking. As people became more and |
| flavors. All Swedish snus is made from tobaccos that | | | | more aware of the dangers of smoking, snus became |
| are carefully selected and air - cured, water, salt and, if | | | | the majority's choice, with more than half of Swedish |
| necessary, different flavor additives; it is usually | | | | snus users being former smokers. Less than 10 |
| pasteurized during a heat treatment process according | | | | percent of snus users are women. |
| to food requirements. This allows for the | | | | As there have been a lot of concerns about the |
| microorganisms to be neutralized and for the tobacco | | | | effects of snus, numerous studies regarding this |
| to stay fresh for a longer period of time. | | | | product have been published lately. The conclusion of |
| Due to tough regulations, Swedish snus is regarded as | | | | the Swedish Board of Health is that the risks of using |
| a food product; this is why factories have to comply | | | | smokeless tobacco are less than those associated |
| with the Swedish sanitation requirements. As a result, | | | | with traditional smoking. However, it is said that |
| all the additives that are used in the making process | | | | smokeless tobacco is associated with mouth and gum |
| are approved as food additives. All stages of | | | | cancer, making people to ask themselves what they |
| production follows strict procedures, making sure that | | | | would choose: getting lung cancer from smoking, or |
| Swedish snus meets the high standards it is known | | | | getting gum cancer from using smokeless tobacco? |
| for. | | | | |