MORE ABOUT The Differences Between Snus and American Smokeless

[BasseBlues]

Hello Matt

Do you have any information on what temperature Swedish Match is using in the pasteurization process?

I had a discussion on my YouTube video on making you own Swedish snus about the best temperature when making snus. When I use my Crokpot I get 65 °C in the snus and if I cover the whole Crockpot with aluminum foil I get it to rise to 90 °C. If I only cover the top I get 75 °C. On different recipes I have read they recommend a temperature between 60 - 90 °C.

[mattzq8sonoma]

IS SNUS GOING UP AGAIN!!!! Damn, how much is it going to be in January do you think???

Don't know exactly. I just saw that Skruf will be going up the equivalent of $2 a can for Los and $1 for pouches. I'm assuming it will be similar for Swedish Match. As far as I know, this only affects sales in Sweden because of the 12% tax increase, but as with everything, prices rise all the time so don't be surprised if it goes up online too. In the US, the prices just went up for Marlboro and Skoal and Camel Snus, so we'll probably follow suit.

[tommybegley]

IS SNUS GOING UP AGAIN!!!! Damn, how much is it going to be in January do you think???

[mattzq8sonoma]

As we seem to have a SM guy here, I would like to raise the question why SM is the only snus brand (AFAIK) which prohibits independent web shops like Northerner, snus.de or snusline to sell their products to us in the EU. I know the ban, of course, but there are loopholes allowing snus to be sold. Other than SM, I mean. Why not General, Ettan, etc. as well?

This isn't my area of expertise at all. But I know that General is available in like 75 countries around the world, same with Ettan & Kronan. I think, but I'm not sure, that Swedish Match allows the sale of those select few brands that are most widely available to be sold through the loophole to the EU. It's the brands that don't have worldwide sales...the brands that are only sold locally in Sweden and Norway...that we don't allow because we are responsible, and we want our products to be sold there legally & legitimately. If you go to Sweden and purchase locally, you can take back any and all SM products through the Travel Retail, AFAIK. Probably want to go there before the end of the year to stock up so you don't get taxed higher.

[mattzq8sonoma]

Matt, would you happen to work in the Kentucky offices for SM / formerly Pinkerton?

Yes that is where I work. In the lab in the middle of the production area. Not the best place for a lab, but it works.

[piks101]

q; people are suckers for anything in a rustic looking packet

here...here, give me an FJ40 all day long.

[DanF]

Same here, it didn't seem to matter what brand that I was smoking, and tried Spirits, too. Smoke inhalation didnt do me any favors, no matter what was in it. Once pot is legal, and in all of the stores, I'll just have it in a brownie, thanks.

Andy

From what I've recently read: taking pot in edible form (brownies, etc.) has a greater potential for overdosing and even causing death in some people. It seems that the effects of consuming pot this way does not kick in until you have consumed far too much.

Start with a very small amount of brownies and wait and see what happens before you eat the whole piece.

Dan

[Andy105]

This could be true, although i remember my last year or so of smoking i switched to American spirit as i thought it would be somehow 'healthier' I still had ****ed up sinuses though ,and felt like garbage .... maybe there is a difference but i think if you are smoking regularly every day that difference is negligible

Same here, it didn't seem to matter what brand that I was smoking, and tried Spirits, too. Smoke inhalation didnt do me any favors, no matter what was in it. Once pot is legal, and in all of the stores, I'll just have it in a brownie, thanks.

[alopezg1]

These cigarettes costs a lot more money to produce, with no added benefit, so I think they'll probably just stick with regular cigarettes. Unless they can make more profit off these by selling them for drastically more...and then you're right But the presentation I attended about this was given by a big wig from Philip Morris, and he was bummed. So I'm assuming they're not pursuing this any further.

Another thing that bugs me is "Natural" cigarettes, like American Spirits. Their market share has been increasing dramatically over the last couple years. Just because they're natural or organic or whatever doesn't mean they're safe. It's what's natural in the tobacco, when burned, that causes the majority of the problems.

quite right.. Arsenic , uranium, cyanide all these things are 'natural' ... all of them will kill you in unpleasant ways .... as will tidal waves and earthquakes , all 100% natural ... It's obviously just a marketing scheme ; people are suckers for anything in a rustic looking packet

[alopezg1]

Matt...I get your point that burning and inhaling the smoke is a health issue. Just like chewing on coca leaves and smoking crack both deliver cocaine but smoking crack is well whack, as in it will wack you out (FU-UP). Similar to snus vs smoking, you can get a nice, even stead supply of nic with snus with very little to no ill effects or get a hyper amount of nic with fleeting satiation and all the detrimental health issues that go with smoking (burning) tobacco. I personally have smoked American Spirits on the rare occasion I smoke and I will tell you that although not safe the short term after effects on my throat, sinuses and chest are significantly reduced then if I smoked a Marlboro per se. I would say the difference is that I am not inhaling the added chemicals. I think it is safe to say that smoking American Spirits or an other all natural tobacco is safer but by no means safe.

This could be true, although i remember my last year or so of smoking i switched to American spirit as i thought it would be somehow 'healthier' I still had ****ed up sinuses though ,and felt like garbage .... maybe there is a difference but i think if you are smoking regularly every day that difference is negligible

[Frankie Reloaded]

As we seem to have a SM guy here, I would like to raise the question why SM is the only snus brand (AFAIK) which prohibits independent web shops like Northerner, snus.de or snusline to sell their products to us in the EU. I know the ban, of course, but there are loopholes allowing snus to be sold. Other than SM, I mean. Why not General, Ettan, etc. as well?

[piks101]

My thoughts exactly.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2837[/ATTACH]

I don't use LinkedIn...or Facebook or Twitter for that matter. I use SnusOn primarily as a snus resource, and a place to share knowledge. Here's a pic of my work badge if that adds to my credibility.

I wasnt dismissing the other additives. I mentioned sugars, ammonia, and propylene glycol because those are the major additives, like the ncbi article link that was posted says, that account for ~10% of a cigarette are also the only additive compounds that, when pyrolyzed, create much worse compounds. The flavor compounds are at very low levels, and don't create hazardous compounds when burned. Yes they may mask the smoke smell slightly and they probably do contribute to better nicotine absorption. Im not a pharmacologist or a toxicologist so I don't know about that. What I meant is that the additives arent the majority when talking about the hazards of tobacco smoke...its the pyrolysis of the actual tobacco, additive free or not.

This debate is a huge reason why Swedish Match divested their cigarette companies back in the early 1980's and we gave up all that cash flow for our vision of a world without cigarettes. Unlike most other tobacco companies out there, we care about public health...not just in words but by action...and have shown that by sacrificing huge profits for the greater good.

Hey I'm on board with snus and respect that SM has a worthwhile mission other than just profits. As for a backup, the site is anonymous but since you posted you worked for SM it makes sense to back it up. Hey, badge looks legit to me.

[piks101]

I bet you still think the world is flat too don't you!

I am not saying what I see but rather what I physically feel. I can accurately gauge my personal pain/discomfort I feel. Your analogy/lil dig really didn't apply.

[piks101]

Regardless of the outcome of the debate here..........to me the issue of additives or not as many additives in cigarettes is kind of like the comfort of knowing that you are standing in front of a 9 man firing squad instead of a 10 man squad.

I just wish the US and EU governments would take a sane look at harm reduction

Could be 5 man....haha but I agree smoking should be limited to very rare occasions and preferably none but either way smoking less added chemicals as opposed t more passes the common sense test imo.

[halocog]

Matt, would you happen to work in the Kentucky offices for SM / formerly Pinkerton?