Nicotine-free snus: what is in it & which to buy

Updated: 26 October 2026 · Snustrend editorial team · Reading time approx. 6 minutes

In short: Nicotine-free snus is not really snus but a white pouch made of plant fibre with flavourings and 0 mg nicotine. It gives you the taste and the familiar feel in your mouth, but no nicotine effect. In Switzerland the main options are Zeronito and VELO ZERO (no active ingredient) plus energy pouches with around 80 mg caffeine. Important: "tobacco-free" does not mean "nicotine-free" – what counts is the "0 mg" label.

What is nicotine-free snus?

Classic snus is a Swedish tobacco product. In everyday language, however, "nicotine-free snus" means something else: nicotine-free pouches – small white pouches placed under the upper lip like nicotine pouches, but containing neither tobacco nor nicotine.

Nicotine-free pouches come in two groups:

Pouches without an active ingredient: only fibre, flavourings and sweeteners, 0 mg nicotine, no caffeine (e.g. Zeronito, VELO ZERO).
Energy pouches: 0 mg nicotine, but caffeine and sometimes vitamins (e.g. SCOOPER Energy with approx. 80 mg caffeine per pouch according to the product description).

Format and use are the same as for nicotine pouches. Most nicotine-free flavours come in the slim format.

What is in nicotine-free pouches?

Manufacturers usually list the same basic ingredients for white pouches. According to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), nicotine pouches contain, according to manufacturers, microcrystalline cellulose, various salts, partly sweeteners, citric acid and flavourings. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also lists sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

In nicotine-free pouches, the nicotine salt is simply left out. What remains:

plant fibre (mostly cellulose) as filler,
water and humectants for the mouthfeel,
flavourings (mint, fruit, cola, coffee, liquorice),
sweeteners and acidity regulators,
in energy pouches also caffeine and sometimes vitamins (SCOOPER: vitamin B5).

The full ingredient list is printed on the can. If you react to sweeteners or certain flavourings, read it before buying.

What does snus without nicotine do?

A nicotine-free pouch has no pharmacological nicotine effect: no "kick", no tingling, no nicotine dose. What remains is taste, freshness and the familiar ritual of a pouch under the lip.

Typical reasons why adults choose nicotine-free pouches:

They like the taste and mouthfeel but want to go without nicotine for a while or completely.
They want a break between nicotine pouches.
They are looking for an alternative to chewing gum, e.g. with coffee or liquorice flavour.

Nicotine-free pouches are not a medical product and do not replace advice on quitting smoking. If you want to stop using nicotine, the Swiss quitline can help (0848 000 181).

Which nicotine-free pouches are available in Switzerland?

The table shows the nicotine-free pouches currently in stock at Snustrend (as of 21 Oct 2026). Data comes from the product descriptions or the manufacturer.

Brand	Caffeine	Format	Flavours (selection)	Price/can
Zeronito (Sweden)	not declared	Slim, All White	Cola, Icy Mint, Lakrits, Melon Rush, Espresso, Exotic, Blueberry Chilli, Jalapeno Lime, Strawberry Lime	CHF 5.70
VELO ZERO	no	Slim, All White	Tropical Mango, Wintery Watermelon, Purple Grape	CHF 4.95
SCOOPER Energy	approx. 80 mg per pouch	Slim	Iced Cola, Iced Tea Peach, Spicy Cherry, Cool Grapefruit, Fresh Mint (some remaining stock only)	CHF 7.90

With 9 flavours, Zeronito offers the widest choice, including spicy flavours such as Jalapeno Lime and the coffee flavour Zeronito Espresso. At VELO ZERO, Tropical Mango has the largest stock. More about the brand: VELO ZERO overview. All flavours are in the Nicotine-free collection.

Nicotine-free but with caffeine: what applies to energy pouches?

Energy pouches are nicotine-free but contain an active ingredient: caffeine. SCOOPER Energy Iced Cola contains around 80 mg caffeine per pouch according to the product description. That is roughly one espresso (approx. 80 mg according to BfR) or one 250 ml can of energy drink (approx. 80 mg).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers 200 mg caffeine as a single dose and 400 mg per day from all sources safe for healthy adults. At 80 mg per pouch, that means at most 2 pouches at once and 5 pouches per day – coffee, tea and energy drinks included. For pregnant women, EFSA sets a limit of 200 mg per day.

In detail with calculator: Energy pouches: how much caffeine is too much? If you combine pouches with coffee, see Snus and coffee.

Are nicotine-free pouches legal in Switzerland – and from what age?

The Tobacco Products Act (TabPG) has been in force since 1 October 2024. It covers tobacco products, nicotine products and e-cigarettes with and without nicotine. A minimum sales age of 18 applies to all covered products. On its TabPG overview page, the FOPH does not explicitly mention nicotine-free pouches.

Product	Covered by TabPG?	Minimum age under TabPG	Note
Nicotine pouches (with nicotine)	Yes (nicotine product)	18 years	Online advertising without age verification expected to be banned from the first half of 2027
E-cigarettes without nicotine	Yes, explicitly	18 years	Disposable devices pay CHF 1.00 tax per ml, even without nicotine
Nicotine-free pouches	Not explicitly mentioned	no explicit rule in TabPG	Snustrend sells all pouches only to adults aged 18+
Energy pouches (caffeine)	Not explicitly mentioned	no explicit rule in TabPG	Follow EFSA caffeine reference values

On vape tax: Vape tax in Switzerland – what 1 ml costs. According to the FOPH, the TabPG revision with stricter advertising rules is expected to take effect in the first half of 2027.

How can I tell whether a pouch is really nicotine-free?

The most common mistake: "tobacco-free" or "All White" does not mean nicotine-free. Almost all white nicotine pouches are tobacco-free but contain nicotine – often 6 to over 20 mg per pouch. How to check:

Read the mg value: only products labelled "0 mg" or "0 mg/g" are nicotine-free.
Product name: "ZERO", "0 mg" or "nicotine-free" are a hint but do not replace the mg value.
Watch for caffeine: "Energy", "Caffeine" or "Booster" usually means caffeine instead of nicotine.
Use the filter: the Nicotine-free collection only lists products without nicotine.

How to read mg values on nicotine pouches: Nicotine pouch strength explained.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is nicotine-free snus really free of nicotine?

Yes, if the can says 0 mg nicotine. Zeronito and VELO ZERO are sold with 0 mg nicotine. "Tobacco-free" alone, however, does not mean nicotine-free.

What does snus without nicotine do?

It offers taste, freshness and the familiar ritual of a pouch under the lip, but no nicotine effect. Energy pouches contain caffeine instead of nicotine, around 80 mg per pouch for SCOOPER.

Can you become dependent on nicotine-free pouches?

Nicotine-free pouches contain no nicotine. A habit around the ritual is still possible. Energy pouches contain caffeine; EFSA names 400 mg caffeine per day as the limit for adults.

Which nicotine-free pouches are available in Switzerland?

At Snustrend: Zeronito (9 flavours, CHF 5.70), VELO ZERO (3 flavours in stock, CHF 4.95) and SCOOPER Energy with caffeine (CHF 7.90). All are in the Nicotine-free collection.

From what age can you buy nicotine-free pouches?

The Tobacco Products Act does not explicitly mention nicotine-free pouches; for nicotine products and e-cigarettes (even without nicotine) the age limit is 18. Snustrend sells all pouches only to adults aged 18 and over.

How long do you keep a nicotine-free pouch in your mouth?

Usually 15 to 30 minutes, until the flavour fades. Then dispose of the pouch in household waste, not in the toilet or outdoors.

Sources

Information on ingredients and caffeine comes from manufacturers or product descriptions. Snustrend also sells nicotine-free pouches to adults only.

Discover now: Nicotine-free pouches · Zeronito · VELO ZERO

Note: Nicotine products are only for adults aged 18 and over. Nicotine is addictive. This is not legal or tax advice.