The workers are poisoned - for the Swedes' snus

 

Swedish Match
P3 reveals: Reva, 80, suffers - so you can sniff white
Bad working conditions and risk of chronic lung diseases

Nelly Kronstrand

Updated 07.37 | Published 06.16

Rameshbhai tells that he vomits after work. Photo: P3

The white snus from Zyn and Velo continues to be successful.

But the Swedes' nicotine enjoyment is at the expense of those who work on indian tobacco plantations, reports P3 Nyheter.
 

- I vomit for several days, Rameshbhai tells the channel.

At the same time that celebrities and influencers celebrate white snus to the skies, those who snus are getting younger and younger.

The boxes come in a stylish design and in colors such as blue, pink and lime green. The snus is said to taste fresh and fruity, which is said to attract youngre girls above all.

But the nicotine used in the popular Zyn and Velo pods is harvested from tobacco fields in northwestern India.

Succésnuset har en mörk baksida, rapporterar P3. Foto: Bebeto Matthews / AP

The buzz of success has a dark side, reports P3. Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP

In P3 Nyheter's documentary "Det vita snusets baksida”, Indian black workers talk about how the working conditions are in the first step in the chain behind the Swedes' nicotine use.

Several tell how they live in extreme poverty and suffer from nicotine poisoning and chronic lung diseases while working in the tobacco fields.

For half a day's work, 80-year-old Reva receives 100 rupees, which is equivalent to around 13 Swedish kronor, she tells P3 Nyheter's program.

- For a whole day we get 200 rupees.

Reva receives the equivalent of 13 Swedish kronor in daily wages, she says. Photo: P3

Unable to provide for their children

Zyn and Velo are owned by Swedish Match and British American Tobacco Sweden.

Both companies have clear guidelines and requirements for working conditions on the plantations. Among other things, the workers must wear protective equipment - and receive a minimum wage according to the companies.

But the guidelines are not followed in the plantations visited by P3.

In the state of Gujarat in northwestern India, Reva works barefoot, planting seedlings from morning to night.

Vishnubhai also says that he works without protective equipment. Which means he can't sleep at night because the tobacco dust makes him dizzy.

- It smells rotten and my whole body burns, says Vishnubhai in the report.

          
           Vishnubhai says he works without protective gear. Photo: P3

He earns the equivalent of 20 Swedish kronor a day. With that salary, he will try to support his two children.

Many of those who work on the plantations are migrant workers, whose children play among piles of tobacco and tobacco dust while their parents work and toil.

Vdn: Need your help

Anette Rosengren is Nordic CEO for Swedish Match/Philip Morris, which owns the Zyn brand.

She highlights that the company has policies and requirements for the tobacco plantations.

- And then it's all about ensuring that our suppliers also live up to the requirements. What you are describing now is a supplier that has not lived up to the requirements and then it is something that we absolutely want to review. But then we need your help to get your facts.

Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

P3 Nyheter has contacted Velo's owner British American Tobacco Sweden for a comment without success.

Nisol is the company that supplies nicotine to Swedish Match/Philip Morris and British American Tobacco Sweden.

The company states that regular checks are carried out on the plantations. But cannot answer questions about why the guidelines are not followed.