Coconut Jaggery | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Coconut jaggery is an unrefined natural sweetener made by boiling and solidifying the sap (neera/toddy) tapped from the inflorescences of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.). It is used as a traditional sweetener across South and Southeast Asian cuisines and is valued for its caramel-like flavour, retained minerals, and lower glycemic index compared to refined cane sugar.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Coconut jaggery is considered safe for the general adult population with no significant regulatory restrictions; it carries no ADI ceiling and is not associated with toxicity at normal dietary intakes. Being primarily sucrose with glucose and fructose, it will raise blood glucose and should be consumed in moderation by people managing diabetes or obesity. It retains trace minerals (potassium, iron, magnesium) and antioxidants from the source sap, giving it marginally better nutritional credentials than refined sugar, though it is still a concentrated caloric sweetener.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Coconut jaggery/coconut palm sugar is not assigned an E-number and is not regulated as a food additive in the EU. It is traded and sold as a natural/traditional sugar product under general food law (Regulation EC 178/2002). No specific EFSA opinion or ADI has been issued for coconut jaggery as a distinct substance.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Regulated under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, sub-regulation 2.8.4 as 'Gur or Jaggery'. Coconut palm jaggery is explicitly listed. Standards on dry-weight basis: total sugars as invert sugar ≥90%, sucrose ≥60%, extraneous matter insoluble in water ≤2%, total ash ≤6%, HCl-insoluble ash ≤0.5%, moisture ≤10% for solid/block varieties. Must be free from substances deleterious to health.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Coconut jaggery is not listed as a food additive requiring pre-market approval. As an unrefined natural sugar product derived from coconut palm sap, it is treated analogously to other traditional unrefined sugars under FDA's general food safety framework. No specific GRAS notice for coconut jaggery has been issued; it is commercially sold as a conventional food ingredient.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Although coconut jaggery has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar, it is still a concentrated source of sucrose, glucose, and fructose that will raise blood glucose levels and must be accounted for in carbohydrate management for diabetics.

Infants — Like all added sugars and sweeteners, coconut jaggery is not appropriate for infants under 12 months; WHO and paediatric dietary guidelines advise against added sugars for this age group.

Children — WHO and most national dietary guidelines recommend limiting all added sugars, including natural unrefined sugars such as coconut jaggery, in children's diets to reduce risk of dental caries and excess caloric intake.

Obesity — As a calorie-dense carbohydrate source (~383 kcal/100 g), excessive consumption of coconut jaggery can contribute to excess energy intake and weight gain, consistent with general dietary guidance to limit added sugars.

Ibs — Coconut jaggery contains fructose and sucrose; fructose malabsorption is common in IBS, and high-fructose or high-FODMAP sugars may trigger symptoms in susceptible individuals.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Coconut Sugar: Chemical Analysis and Nutritional Profile; Health Impacts; Safety and Quality Control; Food Industry Applications, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2PubMed. Palm sap sugar an unconventional source of sugar exploration for bioactive compounds and its role on functional food development, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sap as a potential source of sugar: Antioxidant and nutritional properties, 2019. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4FSSAI. Draft Notification – Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations 2017: Standards for Cane Jaggery / Gur, 2017. fssai.gov.in
5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 – Chapter 2.8: Sweetening Agents including Honey, 2011. fssai.gov.in

Independently researched5 citations