Altria to Test No-tobacco Chewable Nicotine Product

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 05/25/2012

May 24, 2012-Altria is planning to test market a new smokeless product containing nicotine but no tobacco, according to a Timesdispatch.com report relayed by Tobacco China Online. Verve, a chewable, spit-free product, is said to be made from a polymer and non-tobacco cellulose fibers with mint flavoring and nicotine The company said on Tuesday that the new product would be test marketed in Virginia from early next month. It will go on sale in packages of 16 ‘discs', which the consumer can chew, or simply hold in her mouth for 10-15 minutes before discarding. The discs are said to contain 1.5 mg of nicotine. Verve will be sold only to those 18 or older, in child-resistant packaging that will carry a health warning. Altria spokesperson, David Sylvia, was quoted as saying that Verve had been designed for adult smokers who were interested in smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes. "Our research shows that about 30 per cent of adult smokers are interested in some sort of smokeless product," he said.Enditem