Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla / Anthemis nobilis)

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Chamomile is a flowering plant of the Asteraceae family, used extensively as a natural flavouring and aromatic ingredient in teas, beverages, confectionery, and baked goods. Its dried flowers and extracts impart a characteristic apple-like, herbaceous flavour and aroma, and it has a long history of use in both food and traditional medicine.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Chamomile is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a flavouring agent at customary food levels, with no formal Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established. The primary safety concern is allergenic cross-reactivity in individuals sensitive to Asteraceae/Compositae family plants (e.g., ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold), with rare reports of anaphylaxis. Use of chamomile in large or medicinal doses is not recommended during pregnancy due to potential uterotonic effects, and it may potentiate anticoagulant medications such as warfarin.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Chamomile is authorized as a natural flavouring source material (flavouring preparation) under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties. No specific E-number is assigned as it is classified as a flavouring preparation rather than a chemically defined food additive. Conditions of use are governed by Annex I of EC 1334/2008.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Chamomile is not explicitly enumerated as a standalone food additive in FSSAI's Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations 2011. It may be used as a flavouring ingredient or in health supplements/nutraceuticals under general provisions; specific health benefit claims require prior FSSAI approval under the Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals Regulations.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Listed in FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) database as a flavouring/adjuvant (FL/ADJ) under 21 CFR 182.20 (GRAS for natural flavoring substances). Both Matricaria chamomilla L. (German/Hungarian) and Anthemis nobilis L. (Roman) forms are listed. FEMA GRAS 2272 (German), FEMA GRAS 2275 (Roman). Use limited to flavoring purposes at GMP levels.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — High or medicinal doses of chamomile have demonstrated potential uterotonic effects in reviewed literature; incidental dietary exposure (e.g., occasional chamomile tea) is considered low risk but should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Infants — EFSA guidance notes that flavourings, including botanical preparations, require specific safety considerations for infants and young children; chamomile-based teas or supplements are not recommended for infants without medical guidance.

Other — Individuals with known hypersensitivity to Asteraceae/Compositae family plants (ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, daisy) face significant risk of allergic cross-reactivity, including rare anaphylaxis, and should avoid chamomile-containing foods.

Heart Disease — Chamomile contains coumarin-like compounds that may potentiate the effect of anticoagulant medications (e.g., warfarin), increasing bleeding risk in patients on anticoagulation therapy for heart conditions.

Lactation — Insufficient clinical data exist to confirm safety of chamomile at medicinal or high-dose levels during lactation; food-level exposure is likely safe, but supplemental use warrants medical consultation.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. Chamomile flower, Hungarian (Matricaria chamomilla L.) — Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
2FDA. Chamomile flower, Roman, extract (Anthemis nobilis L.) — Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
3EFSA. Scientific Guidance on the data required for the risk assessment of flavourings to be used in or on foods, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. Safety and efficacy of herbal medicines in obstetrics (Birth Defects Research, 2019), 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future (Molecular Medicine Reports, 2010), 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations