Camel Snus

From Tobacco Products

Market Date: April 2006
Camel Snus

Manufacturer

RJ Reynolds American
British American Tobacco
Camel Snus by R.J. Reynolds is manufactured in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for sale within the United States. Japan Tobacco International (JTI) owns the international rights to the Camel brand name outside the United States.^[1] As well as manufacturing all Camel cigarettes sold outside the USA, JTI Sweden manufacturers and distributes Camel Snus for the Swedish Market.^[1] Swedish Camel Snus is made at the JTI Sweden factory in Vårgårda, Sweden.^[1]

Description

Camel Snus, a smokeless spitless tobacco product, consists of pasteurized tobacco portioned into 0.6 gram (Mellow, Frost) and 1.0 gram (Robust, Winterchill) pouches. Camel Snus is available in four flavors: Mellow, Robust, Frost, and Winterchill. Snus is used between the cheek and upper lip where the oral cavity absorbs nicotine.

Snus is not associated with oral cancer but it increases the risk for pancreatic cancer, although these risks are 50% less for snus users than cigarette smokers. ^[1] In a large scale study conducted in Australia, lifelong users of snus had a life expectancy comparable to those who quick tobacco all-together. ^[1]

In December 2008, the Spice and Original flavors were replaced with a single Mellow flavor. In 2009, Camel Snus was launched nationally. The newest version of Camel snus contains 8mg of nicotine per pouch, according to an RJ Reynolds spokesman.^[1]

In July 2010, Camel Snus was completely redesigned. Not only was the container improved upon, the pouches are now larger and contain more moisture and nicotine. All four flavors: Mellow, Robust, Frost, and Winterchill will now be distributed nationally.

Claims

You can receive pleasure anywhere.^[1]
Be the first one on your block to try Camel Snus, a different way to do tobacco.^[1]
Snus is a different kind of smokeless tobacco because it's pasteurized, whereas moist snuff is fermented.^[1]
The Camel Snus Web site suggests using its product at a concert, right in front of security, on a jet from Miami to L.A. or at a bar or club.^[1]

Product Design Features

Contains pasteurized tobacco, water, pouch materials, flavors (including menthol for Camel Snus Frost), sodium carbonate, and sodium chloride
Nicotine (Original): 14.5 mg/g ; Free Nicotine, 2.4 mg/g ; Total tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA): 1.4 mg/g
Nicotine content could vary by product flavor type as a specific intention of the manufacturer to create a consumer acceptable nicotine effect-flavor balance

Camel Snus is a spitless, Swedish-style dry snuff which has lower TSNA levels and is potentially less harmful than other SLT products. The product is the first smokeless tobacco product to be marketed by a cigarette company in the US, and appears to have been developed to appeal to smokers. Camel Snus is pasteurized which inhibits development the of TSNAs. Camel Snus also has low salt, which produces less saliva and reduces the need for spitting.^[1]

Reviews

Camel Snus flavors

Images

Camel Snus
New Camel Snus Tins	Camel Snus Ad in Rolling Stone	Camel Snus Ad in Rolling Stone	Camel Snus Ad in PEOPLE Magazine
People Cover with Camel Snus AD	Camel Snus Ad in Field and Stream Magazine	Camel Snus Ad in Field and Stream Magazine	Snus Flyer
Snus Flyer	Camel Snus Flyer	Camel Snus Free Tin Coupon	Camel Snus Pouches Showing Snus
Camel Snus Pouches get bigger	New Square Camel Snus Tins	Camel Snus Dispenser	Camel Snus sold at Sheetz
Snus Sinage at Sheetz	Snus Sinage at Sheetz	Snus Sinage at Sheetz	Snus Sinage at Sheetz
Snus Sinage at Sheetz	Camel Snus: Made in Sweden	Camel Sponsored Event	Camel Snus Ad
Camel Snus Newspaper Ad: Original, Frost, and Spice	Camel Snus Snus While Dinning	Camel Snus Snus While Playing	Camel Snus Camel Snus Promoter Orlando FL. Copper Rocket Bar
Camel Snus Promo Man Age Verification	Camel Snus Promo Man Takes My License	Free Camel Snus From Promo Man Copper Rocket, Orlando FL.	Free Camel Snus Coupon
Camel Snus Pleasure Whenever	Camel Snus Street Ad	Camel Snus Sinage	Camel Snus Insert
Insert In Camel Cigarettes Free Snus coupon	Old Camel Snus Ad	Old Camel Snus Flavors

Media

Publications

Industry Documents

Links

Market Testing

August, 2006: Portland, OR; Austin, TX
July, 2007: Dallas, TX; Raleigh, NC; Columbus, OH; Orlando, FL; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, MO; Morgantown, WV
May, 2008: Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN; New York City, NY; Oakland, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA

Advertising and Selling Messages

Retail communications, brochures, direct mail, website. Retailers offered new signage and POS countertop refrigerator
Part of Reynolds’ strategy to attract smokers has used the promotional phrase, “Pleasure For Whenever” to suggest a tobacco product that can be used in non-smoking environments

Promotion

Camel Snus was developed as part of Reynolds’ strategy to attract smokers and has used the promotional phrase “pleasure for whenever” to suggest a tobacco product that can be used in non-smoking environments. Smokers appear to be targeted in messaging and promotional materials. Multiple aggressive marketing strategies have been employed, including retail communications, brochures, direct mail and a website. Reynolds has employed colorful new signage at retail outlets. The product is sold in a special countertop refrigerator, in proximity to confectionaries. At the test market introduction in Portland, Camel Snus pricing was similar to or greater than Camel cigarettes. Camel Snus averaged $4.60 per package, $0.30 more than the Camel cigarettes. In Austin, the average price was $4.81, a large ($1.18) increase over the average Camel cigarette price of $3.63. Crosspromotions with cigarettes have been employed with free coupons for Camel Snus being provided with Reynolds cigarette products. Because of cross-marketing with cigarettes and promotion among the smoker market, it appears that Camel Snus is designed to be used in conjunction with cigarettes. Such dual use raises concerns about health implications, as the potential health benefits of reduced toxin snus would be negated among those who continue to smoke. Aggressive marketing of new snus products may lead to further enticement of youth, who later may “graduate” to smoking. There are also concerns that current smokers may use snus instead of quitting altogether, or that past smokers may be lured back into tobacco use via snus. ^[1]

Product Chemistry

Ingredients
- Pasteurized tobacco
- Water (33% moisture content)
- Pouch Materials
- Flavorants
- Sodium carbonate
- Sodium chloride

Nicotine levels
- 8mg nicotine (Mellow, Frost) and 13mg nicotine (Robust, Winterchill) per pouch
- 2.4mg unbound nicotine per gram of tobacco (1.44mg per pouch)

TSNA level
- 1.3ug per gram of tobacco

Packaging

Metal, oblong shaped container
Each tin contains 15 pouches
Pouches are sealed with tape in a metal tin to preserve flavor
Available in 4 flavor types: Mellow, Robust, Frost, and Winterchill

Use and the Consumer

Potential users instructed on method for using snus
Brochure indicates nicotine onset effects require 5 min
Lasts up to 30 minutes
Refrigeration not required after opening

Human Use and Exposure

Human exposure: not yet conducted or not available

Toxicity Analyses

Ames method in vitro: not yet conducted or not available
In vivo MSP: not yet conducted or not available
Animal exposure: not yet conducted or not available

Legal Compliance

Surgeon General warnings
No sales to minors
Subject to State and Federal cigarette taxes

Community Response

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued a press release protesting

the proliferation of this product in markets with clean indoor air laws.

Patents

Smokeless Tobacco Composition

Notes

[1]