About
Dried basil is the dehydrated leaf of Ocimum basilicum L., a culinary herb in the Lamiaceae family widely used to season foods. It is valued for its aromatic volatile compounds—including linalool, eucalyptol, and estragole—that impart characteristic flavour and fragrance to a broad range of dishes.
Safety summary
Dried basil is GRAS-affirmed by the FDA and broadly regarded as safe for the general adult population at culinary intake levels, with no established ADI. It naturally contains estragole, a compound of interest at high (non-dietary) doses, but exposure from normal food use is not considered a safety concern by regulatory authorities. Microbial contamination (Salmonella) is the primary documented food-safety hazard for the dried product in commerce.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Recognised as a permitted herb/spice under FSANZ Food Standards Code; no numeric ADI for culinary use.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a traditional food herb approved for use across the EU; no numeric ADI set for culinary dried herb use. EFSA separately evaluated basil tincture as a feed additive for animals (2025 opinion), which is distinct from human food use.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Permitted as a spice/herb under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations; mycotoxin and aflatoxin limits in spices are under active review by FSSAI.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Listed as GRAS under 21 CFR 182.10 (spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings); no numeric ADI assigned. Dried intact basil is also recognised as within the farm definition under FDA FSMA risk assessment scope.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. FDA GRAS Food Substances: Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
- 2EFSA. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum L. (basil tincture) for use in all animal species, 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FDA. Microbiological Surveillance Sampling FY17-21: Fresh Herbs (Cilantro, Basil & Parsley), 2024. fda.gov
- 4PubMed. Basil — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Postharvest Microwave Drying of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): The Influence of Treatments on the Quality of Dried Products, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
