Bureau of Prisons faces scrutiny over startup's exclusive deal to sell non-FDA-authorized nicotine pouches to prisoners

TL;DR

A new company, SHFT Holdings Enterprise, was granted an exclusive deal to sell "mindSHFT" nicotine pouches in federal prison commissaries.
The "mindSHFT" product is not authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the U.S. and is not commercially available.
A whistleblower complaint prompted the Justice Department's inspector general and Attorney General to investigate the deal.
A senior prison official has paused all further procurement of the nicotine pouches pending a review.
SHFT Holdings Enterprise was incorporated in Florida shortly before the BOP published a request for information regarding nicotine pouch vendors.
The BOP stated the nicotine pouches were intended to combat contraband tobacco and nicotine products.
No illnesses or adverse effects have been reported from the use of these products.
The FDA has stated it has not issued any authorization for mindSHFT nicotine pouches.
The company claims to have submitted applications to the FDA and that its products are made by an established manufacturer.

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