Question: We are about to close a deal to store snuff (tobacco strands) in plastic tubs. Are there any products with which it should not be stored?

Answer: It is safest not to store any odor-producing or odor-absorbing commodities in the same room with tobacco. This means that higher fat products such as nuts, butter, and/or cream should not be stored together with tobacco. Likewise, meat, fish and poultry products should not be stored with tobacco products. In addition, even if the food products are stored in barrier films, the cardboard boxes and other containers that hold the food products may pick up the odor from the tobacco. Therefore, in general, it is advised to not store tobacco with any food products. More information can be found under the “Tobacco” section of the Commodity Storage Manual.

Answered by WFLO Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) Chairman Dr. Michael Jahncke, Virginia Tech University, and SAC Member Dr. Elhadi Yahia, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

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