About
Clove powder is the finely ground dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (syn. Eugenia caryophyllus), a tropical evergreen tree, used globally as a culinary spice and natural food preservative. Its characteristic warm, pungent aroma and flavour are primarily derived from eugenol, which constitutes 70–90% of its essential oil.
Safety summary
Clove powder is GRAS-classified by the FDA and broadly accepted as a safe culinary spice, with WHO/FAO JECFA establishing an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 2.5 mg/kg body weight per day for eugenol, its principal bioactive component. At high supplemental or overdose levels, eugenol can cause severe hepatotoxicity, and contact hypersensitivity reactions including allergic contact dermatitis and rare anaphylaxis have been documented. Methyl eugenol, a trace constituent of clove oil flagged by EFSA as genotoxic and carcinogenic, warrants caution with concentrated extracts, though dietary exposure from normal culinary use is considered negligible.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Permitted as a natural flavouring spice under EU Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings and flavouring substances. EFSA's pesticide active substance peer review of clove oil derived an eugenol ADI of 1.0 mg/kg bw/day and flagged methyl eugenol (a minor trace component) as genotoxic and carcinogenic; this review pertains to pesticide use and does not constitute a ban or restriction on culinary clove powder.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Regulated under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Chapter 2.9. Clove powder must be derived from Eugenia Caryophyllus (C. Sprengel) Bullock and Harrison, be reddish brown to blackish brown in colour with a strong aromatic odour, and be free from mould, insects, added colouring matter, and other harmful substances.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Clove buds, clove oil, and oleoresins are approved as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR 184.1257 for use as food additives. No upper intake limit set for culinary spice use.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. CFR Title 21, Section 184.1257 – Clove and its derivatives (GRAS listing). accessdata.fda.gov
- 2EFSA. Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance clove oil – EFSA Journal, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Biological Properties and Prospects for the Application of Eugenol—A Review, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4other. Eugenol (Clove Oil) – LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury, 2019. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Safety assessment of a standardized polyphenolic extract of clove buds: Subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity studies, 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 – Chapter 2.9: Salt, Spices, Condiments and Related Products, 2011. fssai.gov.in
