Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a leguminous flowering plant consumed as a food ingredient in the form of sprouts, dried leaves, seeds, and protein concentrates, valued for its high content of vitamins, minerals, protein, and phytochemicals including phytoestrogens. It is used as a vegetable, herbal flavoring, dietary supplement, and functional food ingredient across many global cuisines and food systems.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Alfalfa is generally recognized as safe for the broad adult population when consumed in typical food amounts; however, it contains L-canavanine (a non-protein amino acid) and coumestrol (a phytoestrogen) that can pose specific risks to sensitive individuals such as those with autoimmune conditions. Raw alfalfa sprouts have also been associated with foodborne illness outbreaks involving Salmonella and E. coli due to warm, moist sprouting conditions. No formal Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been established by EFSA or FDA for alfalfa as a whole food or herb.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	EFSA's NDA Panel issued a safety opinion on alfalfa protein concentrate as a novel food (EFSA-Q-2008-031). Alfalfa protein concentrate has subsequently been authorized as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Whole alfalfa plant (sprouts, leaves) consumed in conventional food use predates May 1997 and is not subject to novel food restrictions. Key safety concerns identified in the EFSA assessment include L-canavanine and coumestrol content in the protein concentrate.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Alfalfa herb is listed as GRAS under 21 CFR 182.10 as a spice and natural seasoning/flavoring. Alfalfa extract is separately recognized as GRAS as a flavoring substance by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and appears in the FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) database.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Other — Individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune conditions should avoid alfalfa, as L-canavanine found in seeds and sprouts can trigger or exacerbate lupus-like autoimmune reactions, a concern explicitly identified by EFSA in its safety assessment of alfalfa.

Pregnancy — Alfalfa contains coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, and L-canavanine; high intakes during pregnancy may pose hormonal and immunological risks, as highlighted in EFSA's novel food safety opinion on alfalfa protein concentrate.

Lactation — Phytoestrogens such as coumestrol in alfalfa may transfer to breast milk and affect infant hormonal exposure; intake should be kept to typical food amounts during lactation.

Infants — Raw alfalfa sprouts carry a well-documented risk of Salmonella and E. coli contamination and are not recommended for infants and young children due to their heightened vulnerability to foodborne illness.

Heart Disease — Alfalfa is rich in vitamin K, which can reduce the efficacy of anticoagulant medications such as warfarin commonly prescribed for heart conditions; patients on blood thinners should consult a doctor before regular consumption.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. 21 CFR 182.10 – Spices and Other Natural Seasonings and Flavorings (GRAS). ecfr.gov
2FDA. Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) – Alfalfa Extract (Medicago sativa L.), 2026. hfpappexternal.fda.gov
3PubMed. A comprehensive overview of three novel plant proteins approved by EFSA: alfalfa protein concentrate, rapeseed and mung bean protein isolates, 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4EFSA. Opinion on the safety of 'Alfalfa protein concentrate' as food, 2009. efsa.europa.eu

Independently researched4 citations