If you swallow a snus pouch, the pouch and its nicotine go into the stomach and the intestine, and the body can absorb part of the nicotine there. Possible symptoms are nausea and vomiting. Larger amounts of nicotine can also cause diarrhoea, more saliva and a slower heartbeat (BfR, 2022). How serious it is depends on the nicotine content, the number of pouches and the person. Children are at particular risk.
This guide explains what happens in the body, which symptoms are possible and when to get help. It is general information and does not replace medical advice. The sources are listed at the end.
What happens in the body after swallowing snus
A pouch that you swallow no longer lies on the oral mucosa. It reaches the stomach. The Swedish Poisons Information Centre states that the body absorbs nicotine from snus through the stomach (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023).
The acidic stomach changes how fast this happens. In an acidic environment, nicotine is mostly in its ionised form. In this form it does not cross membranes rapidly (Benowitz et al., 2009). Nicotine that the intestine absorbs goes to the liver first. The liver breaks down about 70% of the nicotine in the blood that passes through it (Benowitz et al., 2009). Doctors call this the first-pass metabolism.
Do not read this as "nothing reaches the blood". The Swedish Poisons Information Centre states that the body absorbs nicotine from snus easily, both through the oral mucosa and through the stomach (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023). The same report notes that nicotine itself triggers vomiting. For this reason, people relatively often vomit swallowed pouches again.
Symptoms after swallowing a snus pouch
The BfR describes the symptoms of nicotine poisoning in three levels (BfR, 2022):
- Mild poisoning: nausea and vomiting
- Larger exposure: in addition diarrhoea, more saliva and a slower heartbeat
- Severe poisoning: seizures and depressed breathing
The Swedish Poisons Information Centre adds vomiting, cold sweat, tiredness and palpitations as symptoms that can appear quickly after someone tastes snus (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023).
The amount of nicotine in one pouch varies a lot. In BfR analyses, nicotine pouches contained between 1.79 mg and 47.5 mg nicotine per pouch. The BfR also notes that some manufacturers state the nicotine content per pouch and others per gram (BfR, 2022). The can shows which value applies to your product. A value of 20 mg/g is not the same as 20 mg per pouch.
Swallowed snus: what to do
Contact a poison control centre or a doctor. This applies to adults with symptoms and to every child who has swallowed a pouch or put one in the mouth. The staff assess the case and tell you what to do next. In Germany, the BfR lists the regional poison information centres with their numbers. One example is the Giftnotruf of the Charité in Berlin: 030 19240. Other countries have their own poison control centres.
The label on the can shows the nicotine content, so keep the can at hand when you call. If a person loses consciousness, has seizures or has difficulty breathing, call 112 immediately. The European emergency number 112 is available free of charge everywhere in the EU (European Commission).
Is swallowing snus dangerous?
Swallowing snus can cause nicotine poisoning, so it always needs attention. The risk grows with the nicotine content and the number of pouches. For pure nicotine, the chemical classification uses the hazard statement "H300: fatal if swallowed" (BfR, 2022). The Swedish Poisons Information Centre points out that poisonings from products such as snus differ from poisonings with pure nicotine, which usually take a more severe course (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023).
The available reports describe recorded cases. The BfR knew of some poisoning cases with nicotine pouches in 2022, and none of them had a severe course (BfR, 2022). The Swedish Poisons Information Centre evaluated its calls from 2013 to 2021 and describes the risks of swallowing snus as limited (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023). These reports do not rule out a severe course in an individual case. Severe symptoms always need medical help.
Children and pets
Children weigh much less than adults, so the nicotine from one pouch is a much larger amount per kilogram of body weight. A US study analysed 134,663 nicotine ingestions in children under 6 years that poison centres recorded from 2010 to 2023 (Olivas et al., 2025). Most children were younger than 2 years. The rate of nicotine pouch ingestions rose by 763% from 2020 to 2023. Compared with all other nicotine products together, nicotine pouches more often led to a serious medical outcome and to hospital admission. Across all nicotine products, the study recorded 2 deaths in the whole period.
The Swedish report adds a possible reason why small children take pouches: tobacco-free pouches lack the bitter taste of tobacco and may attract them more (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023). If a pet swallows a pouch, contact a veterinarian. Store cans where children and pets cannot reach them.
Swallowing saliva while using snus
A pouch in the mouth releases nicotine and other substances into the saliva. Part of the nicotine is always swallowed with the saliva, and the body can absorb it in the stomach and intestine (BfR, 2022). The BfR describes that the swallowed substances also interact with food, saliva and digestive juices there.
The nicotine from swallowed saliva therefore adds to the nicotine that the oral mucosa absorbs. A whole swallowed pouch is a different situation, because all the nicotine that remains in it reaches the stomach together.
Swallowed nicotine pouch or tobacco snus
Classic snus contains tobacco. Nicotine pouches contain no tobacco. They contain a powder of nicotine salts and carrier substances, plus flavourings (BfR, 2022). If you want to know more about the two product types, read what snus is.
For the body, the nicotine is the main factor in both cases. The sources used here do not compare a swallowed tobacco pouch and a swallowed nicotine pouch directly. The Swedish Poisons Information Centre counts tobacco-free snus together with tobacco snus in its statistics (Giftinformationscentralen, 2023). The rules for snus and nicotine pouches differ from country to country. You find an overview in our article on the legal situation of snus. Pouches also leave marks in the mouth during normal use. Read more about snus and the gums.
Sources
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR). Gesundheitliche Bewertung von Nikotinbeuteln (Nikotinpouches). Aktualisierte Stellungnahme Nr. 023/2022, 7 October 2022. doi:10.17590/20211221-131258. PDF
- Benowitz NL, Hukkanen J, Jacob P. Nicotine chemistry, metabolism, kinetics and biomarkers. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. 2009;(192):29-60. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-69248-5_2
- Olivas M, Hays HL, Kistamgari S, Rine NI, Zhu M, Yang J, Smith GA. Nicotine ingestions among young children: 2010-2023. Pediatrics. 2025;156(2):e2024070522. doi:10.1542/peds.2024-070522
- Giftinformationscentralen (Swedish Poisons Information Centre, Läkemedelsverket). Förgiftningsfall orsakade av tobaks- och nikotinprodukter. Report on calls from 2013 to 2021, published 2023. PDF
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR). Giftinformationszentren in Deutschland. Online directory, accessed 8 October 2026.
- European Commission. 112, the European emergency number. Online information, accessed 8 October 2026.
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