Anjeer (Ficus carica)

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Anjeer (Ficus carica), commonly known as fig, is an edible fruit of the Moraceae family native to the Middle East and Southwest Asia, consumed fresh or dried. It is valued as a whole food ingredient rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals, and is widely used in bakery, dairy, and beverage industries as well as in traditional medicine.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Figs are broadly safe for the general adult population with no established ADI, no regulatory bans, and a long history of human consumption across cultures. The primary food-safety concern for dried figs is natural aflatoxin contamination (regulated by FSSAI at ≤10 µg/kg and by Codex CXP 065), not the fruit itself. Dried figs are calorie- and sugar-dense, so individuals monitoring glycemic load should be mindful of portion size.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Restricted	Dried figs must not exceed 10 µg/kg total aflatoxins and 10 µg/kg aflatoxin B1 under FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations. The fruit itself is fully approved; the restriction pertains to mycotoxin contamination limits.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Fresh and dried figs are approved whole foods across the EU. Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice CXP 065 (2008), adopted by EU member states, governs aflatoxin prevention in dried figs. No EU-specific E-number or additive approval applies to the fruit itself.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Fresh and dried figs are whole foods with a long pre-1958 history of safe consumption in the US and are not subject to food-additive review. Abscisic acid, a key bioactive constituent of figs, holds self-affirmed GRAS status per FDA.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Dried figs are calorie- and sugar-dense with a significant glucose and fructose content, and individuals with diabetes should monitor portion size to avoid glycemic spikes, even though fig extracts have shown glycemic-lowering properties in controlled studies.

Ibs — Figs are high in dietary fiber and fermentable sugars (FODMAPs) which may trigger or worsen symptoms in some IBS patients, despite evidence of benefit in IBS-C when used in controlled amounts.

Ibd — The high fiber content of dried figs may aggravate intestinal inflammation during IBD flares; patients should consult a doctor before consuming regularly.

Infants — Dried figs are a choking hazard for infants and young children; fresh or pureed fig is appropriate only after weaning age and in age-appropriate amounts.

Kidney Disease — Dried figs are high in potassium and oxalates, which can be problematic for patients with chronic kidney disease who require potassium or oxalate restriction.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Abscisic Acid Standardized Fig (Ficus carica) Extracts Ameliorate Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses in Healthy Adults. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2PubMed. Phytochemical Composition and Health Benefits of Figs (Fresh and Dried): A Review of Literature from 2000 to 2022, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2020. fssai.gov.in
4PubMed. Review on Fresh and Dried Figs: Chemical Analysis and Occurrence of Phytochemical Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity and Health Effects, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Foods for Special Dietary Use, Foods for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Foods and Novel Foods) Regulations – Schedule of Permitted Plants/Botanicals, 2017. fssai.gov.in

Independently researched6 citations