About
What it is and where it shows up.
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the oldest cultivated cereal grains, consumed as a whole grain, flour, malt, and in fermented beverages. It is valued in food for its dietary fibre (notably beta-glucans), protein, B-vitamins, and minerals, and is used in bread, soups, breakfast cereals, brewing, and baby foods.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Barley is broadly safe for the general population, recognized as GRAS in the US based on its millennia-long history of human consumption, and fully approved in the EU and India with no established ADI restriction. However, barley is a gluten-containing cereal and is strictly contraindicated for individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. EFSA has confirmed the role of barley beta-glucans in reducing post-prandial blood glucose, and FSSAI mandates allergen labeling for barley in India.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Barley is approved as a conventional food ingredient across the EU. EFSA NDA Panel has given favorable opinions on barley beta-glucans for cardiovascular health claims under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Novel barley-derived proteins are assessed under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Mandatory allergen declaration required under EU food labeling law (Regulation 1169/2011).source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Barley grain is approved as a conventional food. Novel barley-derived proteins (e.g., Barley Rice Protein) assessed by ACNFP under retained Regulation 2015/2283. Labeling as a gluten-containing cereal required under UK food labeling regulations (Annex II, Regulation 1169/2011 as retained in UK law).source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | FSSAI has established product standards for Pearl Barley (Jau) and Wholemeal barley powder/barley flour. Mandatory allergen declaration required for barley as a gluten-containing cereal under FSSAI Labelling & Display Regulations (2022). Maximum Ochratoxin A contaminant limit of 20 µg/kg applies to barley under FSSAI Contaminants, Toxins and Residues Regulations, 2011.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Gluten Intolerance — Barley is a gluten-containing cereal that is strictly contraindicated for individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, as recognised by mandatory allergen declaration requirements under FSSAI (India), EU Regulation 1169/2011, and UK food labeling law.
Infants — EFSA NDA Panel concluded that partially hydrolysed barley protein is not a suitable protein source for infant nutrition due to protein quality limitations, and early introduction of barley may trigger IgE-mediated allergic responses in susceptible infants.
Ibs — Barley is high in fructans, a class of fermentable oligosaccharides (FODMAPs), which can exacerbate bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.
Ibd — Barley's high insoluble fibre content may irritate an inflamed gastrointestinal tract during active flares of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis); medical guidance is recommended on intake.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1EFSA. Safety of partially hydrolysed protein from spent barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rice (Oryza sativa) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2023. efsa.europa.eu
- 2FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2022, 2022. fssai.gov.in
- 3FDA. GRAS Notice (GRN) 1031: Barley and Rice Protein Hydrolysate, 2022. fda.gov
- 4EFSA. Beta-glucans from oats and/or barley in a ready-to-eat cereal manufactured via pressure cooking and reduction of blood-glucose rise: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, 2011. fssai.gov.in
Independently researched5 citations