About
Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) is the edible seed of the almond tree from the Rosaceae family, long recognized as a source of essential nutrients including monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It is widely consumed as a whole food snack and as an ingredient across confectionery, bakery, dairy-alternative, and other food categories.
Safety summary
Almonds are broadly recognized as safe for the general population and have documented benefits for cardiovascular health, blood lipid profiles, and glycaemic regulation. However, almonds are classified as a major food allergen (tree nut) under the US Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and equivalent EU legislation; allergic individuals may experience serious or life-threatening anaphylaxis. No Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is established because almonds are a whole food, not a regulated additive.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Almonds are permitted as a food in the EU. EFSA reviewed health claims related to almonds and normal blood LDL-cholesterol maintenance under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (Claim ID 1131). Almonds are listed as a major allergen requiring mandatory labelling under EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Almonds are a recognized whole food with a long history of safe use. Under FALCPA (2004), almonds are classified as a major food allergen (tree nut) and must be explicitly declared on all FDA-regulated food labels. Mandatory pasteurization of California-grown almonds is specified under 7 CFR Part 981.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Almond Allergy: An Overview on Prevalence, Thresholds, Regulations and Allergen Detection. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2FDA. Food Allergies – FDA (FALCPA and FASTER Act allergen labelling guidance), 2026. fda.gov
- 3PubMed. Almond Allergy in Children and Adults: A Narrative Review of Current Knowledge, Clinical Challenges, and Research Gaps, 2026. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. Almonds (Prunus Dulcis Mill. D. A. Webb): A Source of Nutrients and Health-Promoting Compounds, 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to almonds and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1131) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, 2011. efsa.europa.eu
