Lucy—Novel Flavored Nicotine Gum, Lozenges, and Pouches: Are They Misleading Consumers?

Abstract

Background: The packaging and marketing of nicotine gums, lozenges, and pouches can influence users’ perceptions about which products are evidence-based for tobacco cessation and which are designed for nicotine maintenance—which could keep people nicotine dependent. Lucy, a company that produces flavored nicotine gums, lozenges, and pouches, could cause confusion by mimicking the packaging of traditional chewing gum and using similar marketing for its approved smoking cessation products and non-approved products. Methods: This commentary describes Lucy’s marketing practices that could prolong nicotine dependence rather than aid cessation. Results: Lucy’s marketing as “FDA approved for smoking cessation” (true for the lozenges but not the gum or pouches) and “PMTA [Premarket Tobacco Product Application] accepted” could create a false narrative of regulatory acceptance. Its scientific conference presentations could imply that it is endorsed by the scientific community. Its colorful pack design, emphasizing flavors and minimizing nicotine warnings, may attract youth and non-nicotine-users to initiate nicotine use. Conclusion: Lucy’s promotion of its products as safe alternatives to other forms of tobacco, its packaging that recalls innocuous chewing gum, and its use of social media to advertise its products should be explored by researchers and considered by policymakers for potential population-level health effects.

Keywords:

• Tobacco
• regulation
• marketing
• nicotine

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Cancer Institute (grant no. U54 CA180905).