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 from has in recent years increased multifold. However, there is still a great lack of laws, regulations and procedures for nicotine pouches to follow. Various manufacturers and suppliers might be knowledgeable about their own products but the rest of us cannot access this knowledge and are not able to 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 bridge the gap between the stakeholders in the market, including both producers and authorities as well as other stakeholders interested in oral nicotine and 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 fibers, flavors, 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 moist, soft fit, discrete – but still delivers a fresh flavor and a great 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 tomato and potato.
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 wellbeing, 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 strongly 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 products which contain nicotine.
How to measure strength?
A common perception is that the nicotine content determines how strong a pouch is. This being that the more nicotine the stronger the pouch. This is true to a certain extent, but the strength of a pouch which is stated on the can includes more than that.
In fact, 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 of course the nicotine content, taste, pH value, the shape and size of the pouch bag. For example, a higher moisture content and a higher pH value normally means that more nicotine is absorbed when you use a pouch – and the pouch is perceived as stronger.
Comparing nicotine products
To compare with other oral nicotine products, the traditional Swedish snus, which contains tobacco, has normally a nicotine level around 0.8-2 percent and a pH value of around 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 – as well as completely nicotine-free products.
For nicotine pouches there are certain recommended levels which is what the laboratory results published on NicoLeaks compares with. The maximum recommended level of nicotine is 20 mg per pouch while for pH the recommended value is 9.1. To read more about these recommended levels and standards for nicotine pouches please read more under Our testing.
