Philip Morris USA Snuff Products: Marlboro SNUS and Marlboro Moist Smokeless Tobacco (MST)..

January 4, 2008 - Marlboro SNUS was introduced in August 2007 and is being test marketed in the Dallas, TX area (a simliar product Taboka was introduced into the test market of Indianapolis in July 2006) and Marlboro MST was introduced into test market in the the Atlanta area in October 2007. What's the difference in these snuff tobacco products?? With MST instead of chewing on tobacco, a small clump (also called dip) is ‘pinched ‘ out of the tin and placed between the lower or upper lip and gums. The tobacco clump rests on the inside of the mouth for approximately 20-30 minutes. The presence of the clump inside the mouth produces excess saliva. This is typically spit out on the ground or in a bottle because the swallowing can cause irritation of the esophagus, nausea and vomiting. Taboka and Marlboro Snus pouches are similar to those SNUS products sold in Sweden; meaning among other things that they are smoke-free, pasteurized and also typically spit-free. These products usually contains less water and salt then MST products. There is a technique to master in placing the SNUS in a particular location at the front of the mouth between the upper lip and gums. Any movement will result in an increased flow of saliva increasing the urge to spit or swallow more of the toxic tobacco juice. Users of these tobacco products besides being nicotine addicts are at a greater risk of chronic diseases such as pancreatic and stomach cancer and cardiovascular disease. In September 2007 Swedish Match North America started testing an MST named after the the most popular chewing tobacco Red Man called Red Man Premium Moist Snuff. Testing is being carried out in 11 states: IN, OH, WV, KY, LA, MS, AR, NC, VA, western PA and southwest TN--representing 36% of the moist snuff category volume. MST category is dominated by UST's Copenhagen and Skoal and Conwood's (now owned by Reynolds American) premium brand Kodiak. Click on image to enlarge..(TobaccoWatch.org)