RFK Jr. Touts Nicotine Pouches As Safer Than Smoking - But They Have Their Own Risks

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the head of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, has made the claim that nicotine pouches are safer than smoking. "I think the nicotine pouches are probably the safest way to consume nicotine," the former environmental lawyer told a Brazilian media outlet in August 2025 (via The Washington Times). His argument for the use of nicotine pouches was simple: "Nicotine itself does not cause cancer. There is no evidence that it's carcinogenic" (via Florida Politics). However, Kennedy's statement misinterprets the medical field's view, which is that the research regarding nicotine carcinogenicity is inconclusive, not negative.  In fact, there are several studies that support the idea of nicotine being linked to cancer.

As medical professionals' studies chip away at the validity of RFK Jr.'s remarks, the dangers that nicotine — especially nicotine pouches — pose to individuals have resurfaced. Nicotine is highly addictive. And due to its addictive nature, nicotine can bring on withdrawal symptoms when users go too long without it, such as dizziness, headaches, feelings of depression, and vomiting. But, thanks to nicotine pouches' sudden boom in popularity in 2024 and candy-like packaging, the very addictive substance has been flying off shelves, all with many of its dangerous side effects left out of the conversation. 

Nicotine pouches are made of a dissolvable packaging that users place between their gums and lip. As the paper dissolves, the powdered nicotine contents slowly enter the user's system. These pouches, the largest commercially being Zyn, are marketed as being smoke-free and tobacco-free alternatives to enjoying nicotine; however, this "safer" consumption of the substance is not completely innocuous. 

As Dr. Kedar Kirtane told the American Cancer Society in October 2025, "Although pouches may expose you to slightly fewer carcinogens than smoking, they're not harmless. As a head and neck oncologist, the biggest thing I worry about is oral health. You place the pouch between your gum and your lip. This can irritate your oral membrane lining. Constantly doing that is risky if there are carcinogens present."

The product also offers a string of side effects and dings in users' overall health, including tooth decay, damaged blood vessels, nausea, headaches, and mental health issues. Though the substance does leave out the defined carcinogen tobacco that is often partnered with nicotine, Kirtane reminds users, "Just because the FDA authorizes a product does not mean it's safe. It just means that these products can be marketed under certain guidelines. Nicotine should be avoided."

The U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines offer a very different perspective on the products from Kennedy's. The agency says it plainly: "There are no safe tobacco products, including nicotine pouches." But Kennedy didn't limit his recommendations to just nicotine pouches. "Vapes are second," Kennedy said. "But the thing we really want to get away from are cigarettes" (via The Washington Times). 

However, vaping, like smoking, is also incredibly bad for an individual's oral health. Vaping has been linked to lung scarring and heart and brain problems. Though touted as a safer solution to smoking due to the vape's lack of tobacco, the substances within a vape cartridge also contain carcinogens, per the Cleveland Clinic. Not to mention, e-cigarettes have been shown to lead to smoking cigarettes. 

Dr. Bilal Bangash warned users in a conversation with the American Medical Association: "The same body of evidence also suggests long term complications including lung disease, some e-cigarettes and vapes may contain higher nicotine quantities than a regular cigarette," he said. "Therefore, at times it is like smoking an entire pack of cigarettes in terms of nicotine consumption."