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What's inside a nicotine-free pouch? Ingredients explained
A nicotine-free pouch has a short ingredients list, and most of it is the same from brand to brand: plant fibre, water, flavourings, salt, a sweetener, something to hold moisture and something to set the pH. Caffeine pouches add caffeine and, on some panels, a handful of vitamins and minerals. There is no tobacco leaf and no nicotine in any of them.
nicotine-free range list each one. It is the companion to our nicotine pouch ingredients article, which covers the same panel with nicotine on it.
What's inside a nicotine-free pouch?
A typical zero-nicotine pouch sold on 24Nico contains seven categories of ingredient.
Plant-based fibre: The bulk material that gives the pouch its shape and texture, listed as E460, MCC or cellulose |
Water: Carries flavour through the pouch material |
Flavourings: Mint, berry, citrus, fruit, coffee, liquorice and other flavour notes |
Sweeteners: Non-sugar sweeteners that balance the taste: sucralose, acesulfame K, xylitol, stevia, erythritol |
Salt: Sodium chloride, and on liquorice-style products ammonium chloride (salmiak), for taste |
Humectants: Glycerol or propylene glycol, which keep the pouch moist |
pH and acidity regulators: Sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate or citric acid, which set the pH of the pouch |
Some panels add a thickener (sodium alginate), a cooling agent for a cold mouthfeel, or a preservative. No tobacco leaf, no nicotine, nothing that needs to be heated or inhaled.
A caffeine pouch has the same base and adds the active ingredients covered further down.
Next to a nicotine pouch
If you know the panel on a nicotine pouch, most of this list will look familiar. The nicotine pouch ingredients article describes six categories: plant fibre, water, nicotine, flavourings, sweeteners and salts, and pH regulators with humectants. Take nicotine out of that list and you have the zero-nicotine pouch above; put caffeine in its place and you have a caffeine pouch. The base, and nearly every E-number below, is shared.
E-numbers in nicotine-free pouches
E-numbers can look alarming on a short ingredients list, but they are a regulatory shorthand for additives assessed and approved for use in food in the UK and across Europe, where most of these products are made. The E-numbers below are the ones that appear on the panels in our catalogue.
E460: Microcrystalline cellulose, plant fibre, the pouch base material |
E401: Sodium alginate, a thickener and binder from brown seaweed |
E422: Glycerol, a humectant that keeps the pouch moist |
E1520: Propylene glycol, a humectant and flavour carrier |
E500: Sodium carbonates, a pH regulator |
E501: Potassium carbonates, a pH regulator |
E510: Ammonium chloride, the salt in salmiak liquorice, listed as "Salmiak" on Zeronito panels |
E330: Citric acid, an acidity regulator |
E202: Potassium sorbate, a preservative |
E950: Acesulfame K, a sweetener (about 200 times as sweet as sugar) |
E955: Sucralose, a sweetener (about 600 times as sweet as sugar) |
E958: Glycyrrhizin, a sweetener taken from liquorice root |
E960: Steviol glycosides (stevia), a plant-derived sweetener; "RA97" on LEWA panels names the rebaudioside A grade |
E967: Xylitol, a sugar alcohol sweetener (birch sugar) |
E968: Erythritol, a sugar alcohol sweetener |
Chemical names without E-numbers
LEO Zero, Onico Pure White, CAMO and the LEWA caffeine pouches write most ingredients out by chemical name. They are the same additives as in the table above, under a different label.
Cellulose, MCC, "filler (cellulose)": Microcrystalline cellulose, the same plant fibre as E460 |
Propane-1,2-diol: Propylene glycol, the humectant listed as E1520 on other panels |
Glycerol, glycerine: The humectant listed as E422 on other panels |
Sodium chloride: Table salt |
Sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate: pH regulators (E500 and E501 on other panels) |
Sodium citrate: An acidity regulator, the sodium salt of citric acid; listed on LEO Black Cherry Zero |
Ammonium chloride: The salmiak salt, E510 |
Sucralose, acesulfame K, Ace-K: Sweeteners, E955 and E950 |
2-isopropyl-N,2,3-trimethylbutyramide: A synthetic cooling agent that gives the cold mouthfeel of mint without menthol; listed on every LEO Zero panel |
Magnesium hydroxide carbonate: A magnesium salt used as a pH regulator, listed on Onico Pure White |
Alginic acid, sodium salt: Sodium alginate, the thickener listed as E401 on other panels |
The actives in caffeine pouches
Caffeine pouches keep the base above and add caffeine, which the manufacturer prints as an amount per pouch. Some panels, mainly LEWA, also list vitamins, minerals, taurine or a branded extract. Caffeine is a stimulant; how you respond to it is individual.
- Caffeine. A naturally occurring stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao, guarana and yerba mate. In pouches it is added as an ingredient and the amount per pouch is printed on the can, from 20 mg to 100 mg in our range. EFSA's 2015 scientific opinion on caffeine gives 400 mg a day, and 200 mg in a single serving, as reference figures for healthy adults; the NHS gives 200 mg a day during pregnancy.
- Taurine. An amino sulfonic acid that occurs naturally in the body and in meat and fish, and a common ingredient in energy drinks. Listed on all four LEWA POWER products.
- Magnesium. A mineral found in nuts, seeds, wholegrains and leafy greens. Listed on LEWA BURN, GLOW and POWER.
- Magtein. A trade name for magnesium L-threonate, a magnesium salt of threonic acid. Listed on LEWA FOCUS.
- Vitamin B1 and B2. Thiamine and riboflavin, two water-soluble B vitamins. Listed on LEWA BURN.
- Vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin. Listed on LEWA FOCUS, GLOW and POWER.
- Vitamin B12. Cobalamin, a water-soluble B vitamin. Listed on LEWA FOCUS and GLOW.
- Zinc. A trace mineral. Listed on LEWA GLOW and POWER.
- Selenium. A trace mineral. Listed on all four LEWA POWER products.
- Yerba mate. The dried leaf of a South American holly (Ilex paraguariensis), traditionally brewed as a drink. Listed on both LEWA CLASSIC No Nico products, which are zero-nicotine pouches with no caffeine amount stated.
- Metabolaid and dracobelle. Branded botanical extracts listed by trade name on LEWA BURN and LEWA GLOW respectively. The panel gives the trade name only.
Which products list which active
"Lists" means the ingredient appears on the panel; only caffeine has a printed amount.
Caffeine: LEWA BURN Citrus Mint (20 mg), LEWA FOCUS Cucumber Mint (20 mg), LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla (20 mg), LEWA POWER Liquorice Raspberries, Cola Lime, Apple Spruce, Functional Wintermint (50 mg), CAMO Bubble Gum, Vanilla Coffee, Iced Mocha Caffeine (77 mg), Hicaff Classic Cola, Energy Rush, Fresh Mint Slim (100 mg) |
Taurine: LEWA POWER Liquorice Raspberries, Cola Lime, Apple Spruce, Functional Wintermint |
Magnesium: LEWA BURN Citrus Mint, LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla, LEWA POWER (all four) |
Magtein: LEWA FOCUS Cucumber Mint |
Vitamin B1, B2: LEWA BURN Citrus Mint |
Vitamin B5: LEWA FOCUS Cucumber Mint, LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla, LEWA POWER (all four) |
Vitamin B12: LEWA FOCUS Cucumber Mint, LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla |
Zinc: LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla, LEWA POWER (all four) |
Selenium: LEWA POWER (all four) |
Yerba mate: LEWA CLASSIC Liquorice No Nico, LEWA CLASSIC Taste of Tobacco No Nico |
Metabolaid: LEWA BURN Citrus Mint |
Dracobelle: LEWA GLOW Strawberry Vanilla |
One gap: the published CAFERO Americano, Cappuccino and Vanilla Latte ingredient lists read "cellulose (E460), water, flavourings, salt, sweetener (E955), cooling agent, preservative (E202), pH adjusting agent (E501)" and do not name caffeine, although all three are sold as 80 mg caffeine per pouch. Read the CAFERO can for the full panel.
Products without a published ingredients list
Eleven products in our catalogue have no ingredients list on their product page: Zeronito Espresso Slim, Zeronito Lakrits Slim, Zeronito Jalapeno Slim, Zeronito Exotic Slim, Zeronito Honey Melon Ice Slim, Zeronito Peach Ice Slim, Après Zero Blueberry, Après Zero Raspberry Liquorice, Après Zero Ice Tea Peach, Après Zero Mint and LOOP Ice Cool Mint Zero. For those, the panel on the can is the source.
How the brands compare on the panel
The categories are the same everywhere; the compounds differ in a few consistent ways.
Brand: ZERONITO Base: E460 Humectant: Glycerol (E422) Sweeteners: E955; E950 and E967 on Icy Mint and Lakrits Original Notable extras: Salmiak (E510), sodium alginate (E401) |
Brand: VELO Zero Base: E460 Humectant: None listed Sweeteners: Xylitol (E967) on all four, plus E955 or E950 Notable extras: Sodium alginate and E510 on Tropical Mango |
Brand: LEO Zero Base: Cellulose Humectant: Propane-1,2-diol, glycerol Sweeteners: Sucralose Notable extras: Cooling agent, sodium bicarbonate |
Brand: Après Zero Base: Not published Notable extras: Check the can |
Brand: XQS Zero Base: E460 Humectant: Propylene glycol (E1520) Sweeteners: E950, E955 Notable extras: Citric acid (E330) |
Brand: Onico Pure White Base: Cellulose Humectant: Glycerol, propylene glycol Sweeteners: Acesulfame K (Black Cherry only) Notable extras: Magnesium hydroxide carbonate |
Brand: LEWA CLASSIC No Nico Base: E460 Humectant: Propylene glycol Sweeteners: Stevia (RA97) Notable extras: Yerba mate, ammonium chloride |
Brand: LEWA caffeine pouches Base: E460 Humectant: E1520 or propylene glycol Sweeteners: E968, E950, E960, E955; E958 on GLOW Notable extras: Caffeine plus vitamins, minerals, taurine or extracts |
Brand: CAFERO Base: E460 Humectant: None listed Sweeteners: E955 Notable extras: Cooling agent, E202, E501 |
Brand: CAMO Base: Cellulose Humectant: Glycerine Sweeteners: "Sweetener", unnamed Notable extras: Caffeine |
Brand: Hicaff Base: E460 Humectant: Glycerol (E422) Sweeteners: E955; E950 and E967 on Fresh Mint Notable extras: Caffeine, salmiak (E510), E401 |
Reading the panel
Three rules make any panel readable. First, the list is in descending order by weight, so the first two or three items make up most of the pouch. Second, an E-number and a chemical name can be the same thing; E1520 and propane-1,2-diol are both propylene glycol. Third, on a caffeine pouch the amount of caffeine is printed separately from the ingredients list, as mg per pouch, and that figure is the one to compare between products.
The ingredients panel on each can is the source of truth.
FAQ
What are nicotine-free pouches made of?
Plant-based fibre (usually microcrystalline cellulose, E460), water, flavourings, sweeteners, salt, a humectant and a pH regulator. No tobacco leaf and no nicotine. Caffeine pouches add caffeine and, on some panels, vitamins and minerals.
Do nicotine-free pouches contain tobacco?
No. The base is plant fibre. That is also what separates them from traditional Swedish snus, which is made from tobacco leaf.
How do the ingredients differ from a nicotine pouch?
Only in the active ingredient. A nicotine pouch lists nicotine on the same plant-fibre base; a zero-nicotine pouch lists no active at all, and a caffeine pouch lists caffeine.
What is E460 in a nicotine-free pouch?
Microcrystalline cellulose, plant fibre. It is the bulk material that gives the pouch its shape, and it appears first on almost every panel in our catalogue. The same E-number is used in many oral care products and food supplements.
What sweeteners are in nicotine-free pouches?
Most commonly sucralose (E955) and acesulfame K (E950). VELO Zero lists xylitol (E967), LEWA lists erythritol (E968) and stevia (E960), and LEWA GLOW lists glycyrrhizin (E958). All are used in small amounts.
Do nicotine-free pouches contain sugar?
No. Sweetness comes from non-sugar sweeteners. No panel in our catalogue lists sugar.
What is the active ingredient in a caffeine pouch?
Caffeine, printed as mg per pouch on the can: 20 mg (LEWA BURN, FOCUS, GLOW), 50 mg (LEWA POWER), 77 mg (CAMO), 80 mg (CAFERO) or 100 mg (Hicaff). Some LEWA panels also list taurine, magnesium, magtein, zinc, selenium or B vitamins.