Why NicoLeaks?
In recent years the oral nicotine category of nicotine pouches has grown rapidly. The selection of brands and variants from which oral nicotine users can choose has increased multifold. However, there is still a significant lack of regulations and procedures for nicotine pouches. Various manufacturers and suppliers might be knowledgeable about their products. Still, the rest of us cannot access this knowledge or relate the products to market standards.
Thereby, the consumer who has the least information and merely wants a genuine and straightforward way of knowing if a product is reliable has found the right place. NicoLeaks reduces the information asymmetry for consumers and bridges the gap between the stakeholders in the market, including producers and authorities and other stakeholders interested in oral nicotine, specifically nicotine pouches.
What is a nicotine pouch?
Nicotine pouches are a modern way of using nicotine without compromising. They are smokeless, discreet, clean, fresh and spit-free without staining your teeth. The products do not contain tobacco but do, however, contain nicotine that is extracted from the Nicotiana tabacum plant. The blend of natural fibres, flavours, nicotine and a small amount of chewing gum base gives the portion bags an optimal softness which fits discreetly under your lip. The perfect combination of low moisture, soft fit, and discrete – but still delivers a fresh flavour and an excellent nicotine release.
What is nicotine, and why is it in a pouch?
Nicotine is traditionally used as a stimulant. Nicotine occurs naturally in the tobacco plant, which belongs to the potato plant family. Other species in this family also contain small amounts of nicotine, such as tomatoes and potatoes.
The chemical name for nicotine is C10H14N2
How does nicotine affect your body?
When nicotine pouches are used, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream via the oral mucosa and is transferred to the brain’s reward system. Most people experience a general feeling of well-being, which has both a sedative and a stimulating effect. Nicotine alone does not cause cancer. High doses can give rise to side effects such as palpitations, tremors and nausea, which are not unlike the body’s reactions to large amounts of coffee or other caffeine products.
How the body absorbs nicotine is individual and varies from person to person. It also depends on how long you have the pouch in your mouth and what product you are using. The type of nicotine that is most easily absorbed by the body is the so-called free nicotine. A higher pH level tends to have a higher portion of free nicotine.
Use with caution
Nicotine is a powerfully addictive stimulant and should not be consumed by minors, pregnant women or nursing mothers. Also, individuals with health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or epilepsy should not use nicotine products.
How to measure strength?
A common perception is that the nicotine content determines how strong a pouch is. This is that the more nicotine, the stronger the pouch. This is true to a certain extent, but the strength of a pouch stated on the can includes more than that.
It is not the nicotine content per se but the perceived strength of the pouch that is decisive. The perceived strength can be affected by a variety of factors. One of them is the nicotine content, taste, pH value, shape and size of the pouch bag. For example, higher moisture content and a higher pH value mean more nicotine is absorbed when you use a pouch – and the pouch is perceived as stronger.
Comparing nicotine products
Compared with other oral nicotine products, the traditional Swedish snus, which contains tobacco, typically has a nicotine level of around 0.8-2 per cent and a pH of about 8.5. However, from one variant and brand to another, the nicotine level and pH can differ a lot, and there are exceptions with both higher and lower nicotine levels and completely nicotine-free products.
There are specific recommended levels for nicotine pouches, which is what the laboratory results published on NicoLeaks compare with. The maximum recommended nicotine level is 20 mg per pouch, while the recommended value is 9.1 for pH. The minimum recommended value is 5.6 for pH. To read more about these recommended nicotine pouches levels and standards, please read more under Our testing.
