About
Goji berries are the dried or fresh fruit of Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense (family Solanaceae), native to northwest China and long used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine. They are consumed as a functional food and food supplement due to their rich content of polysaccharides, carotenoids (especially zeaxanthin), polyphenols, vitamins, and betaine.
Safety summary
Based on over 2,500 years of traditional use, goji berry is generally recognized as a non-toxic food at conventional dietary doses, and interventional studies support its safety within traditionally established intake levels. Key concerns include possible allergic reactions in sensitive individuals (particularly Mediterranean populations), potential interactions with anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, and pesticide/heavy-metal residues in imported berries from certain production regions. No formal Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been established by EFSA or FDA, as goji berry is treated as a whole food/botanical rather than a food additive.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Restricted | No specific MRLs for goji berries exist in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Standard 1.4.2). Six agricultural chemical residues (chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, difenoconazole, triadimefon, propargite) have been detected in imported goji berries; FSANZ has classified these as a medium-to-high public health risk and subjects imported goji berries to heightened inspection. Estimated chronic dietary exposures are less than 1% of the ADI for each chemical.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Goji berry is not regulated under the EU Novel Foods Regulation (EC 2015/2283) and requires no pre-market authorisation; it has no specific restrictions or maximum use levels. Italy's Ministry of Health has added it to the list of foods with physiological antioxidant properties.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Goji berry is not listed in FSSAI's banned or restricted ingredients. Under FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals) Regulations, fruits and their extracts may be used in nutraceuticals/supplements; specific health benefit claims require prior FSSAI approval. No dedicated goji berry standard exists in FSSAI regulations as of 2025.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1other. Imported food risk statement: Goji berries and agricultural chemical residues. foodstandards.gov.au
- 2PubMed. Health Benefits and Applications of Goji Berries in Functional Food Products Development: A Review, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Levels and health risk assessment of pesticides and metals in Lycium barbarum L. from different sources in Ningxia, China, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) juice reduces lifespan and premature aging of Caenorhabditis elegans: Is it safe to consume it?, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi, 2008.
