In 2021, research revealed that modern oral products in the form of tobacco-free nicotine pouches from British American Tobacco (BAT) have a level of toxicants comparable to that of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, which are considered to be the least risky of all nicotine products. The study found that BAT’s pouches also have significantly lower toxicant levels than cigarette smoke and even Swedish-style snus, which is already considered a reduced-risk product. Smokers looking for an alternative to tobacco or seeking to quit products can find confidence in using these oral nicotine products, which pose less harm to the user.
BAT was established in 1902 and is committed to reducing the health impact of the industry in a variety of ways. They aim to continue providing lower-risk products that consumers will still find enjoyable while advocating for the health benefits of quitting smoking by using less harmful alternatives. BAT offers a variety of modern oral products that have taken inspiration from the oral tobacco-free product snus, which has long been used in Sweden since the 1800s.
What is VELO?
One of BAT’s products is VELO, nicotine pouches that are free of tobacco and provide users with a pleasant, smoke-free experience while decreasing their nicotine dependence. Besides nicotine, the pouches contain flavorings, or sometimes sweeteners, to appeal to the consumer’s taste. The pouches are also very easy to purchase. You can buy smokeless VELO nicotine pouches online at Prilla as the brand is now a market leader in America. VELO nicotine pouches are ideal for adults in the US who want to quit using tobacco, vaping, or chewing tobacco. They can address physical cravings as well as combat psychological cravings. This is done by mimicking the cans or packaging of chewing tobacco, which can help train the brain to think that chewing tobacco is being consumed.
Unlike nicotine patches, which are also commonly used NRT products, nicotine pouches are taken orally by tucking one under the upper lip where the nicotine is absorbed into the body. It also doesn’t require the user to chew or suck to activate like nicotine gum or lozenges. Users can enjoy the flavor and nicotine for over 30 minutes and then dispose of it after.
What is the outlook for nicotine pouches?
Nicotine pouches have been gaining popularity in the US, with sales continuing to rise. Overall sales increased from 126.06 million units from August to December 2019 to 808.14 million units from January to March 2022, with VELO sales increasing by 12.1% over the period.
It’s also likely that sales of nicotine pouches and other NRT products will increase, especially considering the US’s increased restrictions and bans on various kinds of cigarettes and smoke-producing devices. Other than cigarettes, vaping pens such as those from JUUL have become targets for the country’s crackdown on tobacco and nicotine products. US regulators are looking to take these products off the shelves out of concern for both smokers’ and non-smokers’ health. E-cigarettes were widely considered a good smoking cessation product, but authorities expressed worry about younger people using them and growing dependent on nicotine.
Nicotine pouches like those from VELO might soon fill that gap in the market by offering consumers a tobacco-free and smokeless experience, which can be both convenient for users and non-smokers who will be less exposed to secondhand smoke from vapes and cigarettes. If companies such as BAT continue to prove the efficacy and benefits of their products through their research, they may possibly mitigate the impact left by e-cigarettes or other NRT products.