Coriander Oil Paste

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Coriander oil paste is a concentrated preparation derived from the seeds of Coriandrum sativum L., combining the extracted essential or fixed oil with ground seed solids into a paste form. It is used in food manufacturing and culinary applications as a flavouring and seasoning agent, imparting the characteristic warm, citrusy aroma associated with coriander seed.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Coriander seed oil has been evaluated by EFSA and found safe under proposed use levels, with no genotoxicity concerns and no adverse effects observed in a six-month human study at up to 600 mg/day. Animal studies at very high doses (>1,000× the human use level) showed liver changes and transient blood glucose effects in male rats, but these are not considered relevant at culinary or supplement-level intake. No ADI has been formally established by JECFA or EFSA for food use; the ingredient is broadly regarded as safe at typical dietary intakes.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Approved as a novel food ingredient (NFI) for use as a food supplement for healthy adults under Regulation (EC) No 258/97, at a maximum level of 600 mg/day (approx. 8.6 mg/kg bw/day for a 70 kg person). Coriander oil (essential oil form, CAS 8008-52-4) is also separately authorised as a feed additive under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a regulated spice under FSSAI Chapter 2.9 (Salt, Spices, Condiments and Related Products). Standards cover characteristic aroma and flavour, absence of mould and insect contamination, and absence of added colouring matter. No specific regulation targets the paste/oil paste form separately; general spice and food additive regulations apply.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Coriander oil (Coriandrum sativum L.) is listed in the FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory. Coriander seed is recognised as a spice under 21 CFR and carries FEMA GRAS status for use as a flavouring agent. No specific maximum use level is established for the paste form; manufacturer responsibility applies under GRAS principles.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — Concentrated coriander seed oil has not been specifically studied for safety during pregnancy; as a precaution, high-dose supplement forms (paste/oil concentrates) should be used cautiously beyond normal culinary amounts.

Infants — EFSA's novel food approval for coriander seed oil is limited to healthy adults; safety data for infants is not established and concentrated forms are not recommended for this group.

Other — Individuals with known allergy to plants in the Apiaceae/Umbelliferae family (e.g., celery, carrot, fennel) may experience cross-reactive allergic responses to coriander oil paste.

Diabetes — Animal subchronic studies found a treatment-related effect on blood glucose in male rats at high doses (450 mg/kg bw/day NOAEL); individuals with diabetes using concentrated supplemental forms should monitor blood glucose and consult a doctor.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. Substances Added to Food: Coriander, oil (Coriandrum sativum L.). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
2FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations – Chapter 2.9: Salt, Spices, Condiments and Related Products. fssai.gov.in
3PubMed. The effect of Jordanian essential oil from coriander seeds on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory activities using RAW 246.7 murine macrophages, 2024. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil obtained from the fruit of Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander oil) (FEFANA asbl), 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the safety of coriander seed oil as a novel food ingredient, 2013. efsa.europa.eu

Independently researched5 citations