Ajwa Dates | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Ajwa dates are a premium cultivar of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) native to Medina, Saudi Arabia, consumed as a whole fruit and valued for their rich content of natural sugars (fructose and glucose), dietary fibre, polyphenols, flavonoids, and minerals including potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. They are used as a whole food, in functional food formulations, and as a traditional nutritive supplement.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Ajwa dates are a whole food with a centuries-long history of safe consumption and no evidence of harm at typical dietary intakes for the general adult population; no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been established by any regulatory authority. The primary safety consideration is their high natural sugar content (fructose ~39%, glucose ~26%), which warrants portion-size awareness in people managing blood glucose levels. Preclinical studies document antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, and cardioprotective properties, but large-scale human clinical trial data remain limited.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) is a traditional food commodity freely traded in the EU and is not listed as a novel food. EFSA has assessed mineral intakes from date varieties including Ajwa; essential element levels in 100 g of dates fall well within EFSA/WHO provisional maximum tolerable daily intakes. No E-number or specific food additive regulation applies.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) are regulated as a permitted food commodity under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. Ajwa is a named cultivar of date palm; no specific restrictions or conditions of use have been promulgated by FSSAI for this variety.source
SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) (Saudi Arabia)	Approved	Ajwa dates are cultivated primarily in Medina, Saudi Arabia, and are freely produced, traded, and exported as a food commodity. Saudi Arabia is among the world's largest date producers. No intake restrictions apply.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Ajwa dates are a whole natural fruit and are not classified as a food additive. They are traded and consumed freely as a food commodity. No premarket approval is required; they fall outside the food additive definition under 21 U.S.C. § 321(s) of the FFDCA.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Ajwa dates contain high levels of natural sugars (fructose ~39% and glucose ~26%), which can cause rapid glycaemic excursions; individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance should limit portion sizes and monitor blood glucose.

Infants — Whole dates and date pieces present a choking hazard for infants; additionally, their high sugar content is inappropriate for infants under 12 months, and honey-like concentrated fruit products should not be introduced before solid food readiness is established.

Ibs — Dates are high in fructose and fermentable fibres (FODMAPs), which can exacerbate bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Kidney Disease — Ajwa dates are a rich source of potassium (the predominant macroelement at 0.185–1.51%); individuals with chronic kidney disease who must restrict potassium intake should limit or avoid consumption and consult a dietitian.

Gout — The high fructose content of Ajwa dates can increase serum uric acid production via hepatic fructose metabolism, potentially triggering or worsening gout flares in susceptible individuals.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Phoenix dactylifera (Ajwa Dates) Alleviate LPS-Induced Sickness Behaviour in Rats by Attenuating Proinflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress in the Brain, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2PubMed. Effect of Ajwa date pits powder (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on body composition, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Effect of Ajwa Dates Consumption to Inhibit the Progression of Preeclampsia Threats on Mean Arterial Pressure and Roll-Over Test, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effects of Ajwa date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) extracts in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Evaluation of Selected Essential Elements in Khalas Dates from Date Palm Determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Independently researched6 citations