About
What it is and where it shows up.
Garam masala is a traditional South Asian spice blend typically composed of ground coriander, cumin, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg/mace. It is used as a culinary seasoning and flavouring agent to impart a warm, aromatic character to cooked dishes.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Garam masala is generally recognised as safe for the general adult population when consumed in culinary quantities; no ADI has been established. Microbial contamination — particularly Salmonella — is a documented food-safety risk for commercially processed spice blends. The blend is naturally high in salicylates, which may be relevant for individuals with salicylate sensitivity, and some samples have been found to contain aflatoxins and ochratoxin A at detectable levels depending on production conditions.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Garam masala as a composite spice blend is not separately evaluated by EFSA. Constituent spices are regulated as natural flavourings and food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings and Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A limits in spices apply under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Regulated under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, category 12.2.1 (Herbs, spices, masalas, spice mixtures). FSSAI issued FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Third Amendment Regulations, 2020 codifying standards for mixed masala powder (effective July 1, 2021). A further Draft Amendment Regulation specifically for garam masala was notified in October 2024 (under review/public comment). Salt content >5% by mass must be declared on label.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Constituent spices are GRAS under 21 CFR. No specific regulation exists for the composite blend. FDA has issued import alerts and product recalls for specific commercial garam masala products found to be contaminated with Salmonella (Import Alert #99-19). Products not labeled for US distribution that are imported and resold have been subject to detention without physical examination.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Other — Individuals with salicylate sensitivity or aspirin hypersensitivity should use caution, as garam masala has been identified as a very high-salicylate food (PMID:4019987) and may trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
Migraine — Certain constituent spices (e.g., cumin, cinnamon) are recognised dietary migraine triggers in susceptible individuals, and the high salicylate content of garam masala may exacerbate migraine episodes.
Ibs — Garam masala has been shown to accelerate gastric emptying in human studies (PMID:10769605), which may aggravate symptoms such as cramping or diarrhoea in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.
Ibd — Pungent and aromatic spice blends including garam masala may stimulate gastrointestinal motility and irritate an inflamed gut mucosa in individuals with active inflammatory bowel disease.
Infants — Garam masala is not appropriate for infants due to its complex blend of pungent spices and the high salicylate and bioactive compound content that infants cannot metabolise safely.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1PubMed. Evaluation of the modulatory influence of food additive-garam masala on hepatic detoxication system. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Natural occurrence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in processed spices marketed in Malaysia. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Salicylates in foods. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. Gastro-intestinal effects of Indian spice mixture (Garam Masala). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FSSAI. Draft Notification — Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2024 relating to garam masala, 2024. fssai.gov.in
- 6FDA. Public Health Alert Concerning Recalled Everest and Maggi Brand Spices Because of Possible Health Risk (Salmonella), 2023. fda.gov
Independently researched7 citations