Ashwagandha | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic botanical herb primarily derived from its roots, with deep roots in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine systems. It is incorporated into food supplements and functional foods, marketed for purported benefits including stress and anxiety relief, sleep improvement, and cognitive enhancement.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Ashwagandha has been associated with cases of drug-induced liver injury (hepatotoxicity) and potential thyroid-disrupting effects, prompting bans and regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions. The UK Food Standards Agency has recorded an increasing number of adverse incidents related to ashwagandha food supplements, and no safe maximum intake level has been formally established. Sensitive populations, including pregnant women, individuals with thyroid or liver conditions, and children, are advised to exercise caution or avoid use.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Denmark)	Banned	Denmark banned ashwagandha in food supplements and food products due to concerns about hepatotoxicity and thyroid-disrupting effects. The ban was enacted circa 2023 and has been the subject of scientific debate regarding the quality of the supporting evidence.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Restricted	Ashwagandha roots are permitted as a health supplement and nutraceutical ingredient under FSSAI's Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016. Use of ashwagandha leaves (crude or extract or any other form) is strictly prohibited in food and Ayush drug products due to elevated Withaferin-A content. Specific health benefit claims require prior approval from the Food Authority.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Restricted	Ashwagandha is regulated as a dietary supplement ingredient under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA, 1994). It is not approved as a conventional food additive and does not appear in the FDA GRAS list for general food use. Manufacturers bear responsibility for the safety of products containing ashwagandha before marketing.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — Ashwagandha has traditionally been associated with abortifacient properties and potential teratogenic effects; its safety in pregnancy has not been established by any major regulatory body.

Lactation — Insufficient safety data exist for ashwagandha use during breastfeeding; bioactive withanolides may potentially pass into breast milk.

Liver Disease — Multiple case reports of drug-induced liver injury associated with ashwagandha supplementation have been documented and cited as justification for Denmark's ban and the UK FSA adverse-incident reviews.

Thyroid Disease — Ashwagandha may affect thyroid hormone levels; individuals with thyroid disorders or those taking thyroid medication should consult a physician before use, as thyroid effects contributed to Denmark's regulatory ban.

Children — No established safe dose or toxicological threshold has been determined for children, and FSSAI nutraceutical regulations restrict certain health supplement products for children below specified ages.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1other. Ashwagandha – Call for Evidence. food.gov.uk
2EFSA. Compendium of Botanicals – EFSA. efsa.europa.eu
3FSSAI. Advisory regarding non-use of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) leaves in crude or extract or any other form in food products, 2026. fssai.gov.in
4other. Final Minutes of the 21st October 2025 COT Meeting, 2025. cot.food.gov.uk
5PubMed. Danish ban on Ashwagandha: Truth, evidence, ethics, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations