About
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a leguminous annual plant native to the Mediterranean region and South Asia, whose seeds and leaves are widely used as a spice, flavoring agent, and food ingredient. It imparts a characteristic slightly bitter, maple-syrup-like flavor and is extensively used in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines, as well as in food supplements for its purported blood glucose-lowering and galactagogue properties.
Safety summary
At culinary doses, fenugreek is generally regarded as safe and has demonstrated a broad margin of safety in systematic toxicological reviews of standardized seed extracts. High-dose supplemental use may potentiate hypoglycemic effects in diabetics and interact with anticoagulants; concentrated preparations are contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential uterotonic activity. Cross-reactive allergies have been documented in individuals sensitive to other Fabaceae (legume) family members such as peanuts and chickpeas.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Fenugreek has no assigned E number; it is used as a traditional spice and botanical food ingredient in the EU. It falls under EFSA's botanical safety assessment framework (Regulation EC 1334/2008 for flavourings). EFSA's Compendium of Botanicals includes Trigonella foenum-graecum. No specific maximum use level established for culinary use.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Fenugreek (Methi) is recognized as a traditional permitted spice and condiment under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Defatted fenugreek seed flakes (FenuFlakes®) and defatted fenugreek seed powder were additionally approved as novel/non-specified food ingredients under FSS (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017, approval dated 05.06.2025.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Fenugreek extract is separately listed in the FDA Substances Added to Food database, also with GRAS status as a natural flavoring substance. FEMA GRAS No. 2485.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) – Fenugreek. hfpappexternal.fda.gov
- 2FSSAI. List of product(s)/ingredient(s) applications Approved under Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017 – Status as on 04.12.2025, 2025. fssai.gov.in
- 3PubMed. Trends and current food safety regulations and policies for functional foods and beverages containing botanicals, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. A systematic literature review of fenugreek seed toxicity by using ToxRTool: evidence from preclinical and clinical studies, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5EFSA. Safety assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations intended for use as ingredients in food supplements (EFSA Guidance), 2009. efsa.europa.eu
