London, Dec 16 (ANI): Anti-smoking campaigners have slammed a new snuff product, claiming that it is unsafe and is being targeted at teenagers.

The tobacco product, Zuka Black, is inhaled through the nose that gives the user a nicotine hit.

It was introduced in the UK markets last month and has already sold more than 100,000, but has been condemned by Drugscope and Ash.

Amanda Sandford from Ash said that the product is certainly not safe as it contains tobacco and is being marketed towards the teenagers.

“There is no such thing as a safe tobacco product. This is clearly being targeted at young people - it does contain tobacco and people can get cancer from it, The Sun quoted her, as saying.

Zuka is packaged in a fag-packet-sized box that when opened, splits across the middle. It contains a cotton handkerchief and a bullet shaped dispenser inside which can be loaded and sniffed from.

It contains 60 hits of tobacco that is equivalent to 20 cigarettes.

“Snuff is neither safe nor glamorous and indeed can be pretty disgusting, said Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of Drugscope.

However, Zuka was defended by Philip Ashby Rudd, Managing Director of Zuka, who said that the product provided tobacco in a socially acceptable way to the people.

“The country has gone cold turkey overnight. At least this way those smokers that wish to continue enjoying tobacco after the ban can get their nicotine in a socially acceptable way that doesnt require them to stand outside in the rain every time they want to satisfy a craving. This is smoke without the fire, he said. (ANI)