About
What it is and where it shows up.
Cashew powder is finely ground cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale), a tree nut native to Brazil and widely cultivated in tropical regions. It is used as a flavouring, thickening, and nutritional ingredient in confectionery, dairy analogues, sauces, and health foods.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Cashew powder is safe for the general adult population with a long history of dietary use and no established ADI. The primary safety concerns are tree-nut allergy (cashew is a major allergen listed under mandatory labelling laws in the US, EU, India, and most major jurisdictions) and the potential for aflatoxin contamination in poorly stored or processed batches. No IARC carcinogenicity classification applies to cashew nut itself; aflatoxin B1, a possible contaminant, is IARC Group 1.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Cashew is permitted as a food ingredient under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code; tree nuts including cashew are mandatory allergen declarations under Standard 1.2.3.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Cashew nuts and products thereof are permitted as food; they are listed as a mandatory allergen under EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Annex II, tree nuts). No maximum use level set for cashew powder as a food ingredient.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Cashew nut (Kaju / Anacardium occidentale) is listed as a permitted food and botanical ingredient under FSSAI Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals Regulations; suggested serving as a food is 10–20 g. Raw cashew nut imports are subject to a specific FSSAI clearance exemption order (Oct 2017). Cashew fruit extract is not permitted as a health supplement claim but is allowed as a food ingredient.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Cashew is recognized as a whole food/minimally processed ingredient with GRAS status by history of safe use. It is also listed as one of the nine major food allergens under FALCPA; mandatory declaration on food labels is required. No quantitative use limit. |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Nut Allergy — Cashew is a tree nut and one of the most common causes of severe IgE-mediated allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis; it is a mandatorily declared allergen under US FALCPA, EU Regulation 1169/2011, and FSSAI labelling rules.
Infants — Tree nuts including cashew should be introduced to infants only under appropriate guidance to monitor for allergic reactions, consistent with international infant feeding recommendations.
Kidney Disease — Cashew nuts are relatively high in potassium, phosphorus, and oxalates; patients with chronic kidney disease may need to limit intake to avoid mineral accumulation.
Gout — Cashews contain moderate levels of purines; individuals with gout or hyperuricaemia are generally advised to monitor total purine intake from nuts and seeds.
Ibs — Cashews are high in FODMAPs (fructans and GOS) and may trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome following a low-FODMAP diet.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1FDA. Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredient. fda.gov
- 2FDA. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), 2023. fda.gov
- 3FSSAI. FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2022 – Schedule II Botanicals, 2022. fssai.gov.in
- 4PubMed. Microbiological Quality and Risk Assessment for Aflatoxins in Groundnuts and Roasted Cashew Nuts Meant for Human Consumption, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FSSAI. FSSAI Order – Exemption from FSSAI Clearance for Import of Raw Cashew Nuts (Oct 2017), 2017. archive.fssai.gov.in
Independently researched5 citations