Gold Kiwifruit | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis) is a naturally cultivated whole fruit distinguished by its golden-yellow flesh, sweeter flavour, and exceptionally high vitamin C content (approximately 161 mg per 100 g). It is consumed as a fresh whole food and is valued for its dense nutritional profile including vitamins C and E, folate, potassium, dietary fibre, and bioactive phytonutrients.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Gold kiwifruit is widely recognised as safe and well-tolerated for the general adult population, with no significant adverse effects reported across multiple clinical trials. It contains actinidin, a proteolytic enzyme, and oxalates which may cause mild oral irritation in sensitive individuals; kiwifruit allergy (cross-reactive with latex, birch pollen, or other fruit allergies) is a documented concern in a small subset of people. No ADI is established as it is a whole food, not a food additive.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Gold kiwifruit is a whole food and not subject to food additive regulations. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, kiwifruit qualifies for authorised nutrient function health claims for vitamin C and potassium. EFSA has reviewed health claim applications for kiwifruit related to digestive health and immune function.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Kiwifruit is recognised as a whole fresh fruit under FSSAI food safety standards. No specific additive regulation applies; governed by general fresh produce and import standards.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Gold kiwifruit is regulated as a whole fresh fruit under FDA produce safety regulations (FSMA). No additive status or ADI applies. Routine produce safety oversight applies.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Nut Allergy — Kiwifruit allergy is documented and can be cross-reactive with latex (latex-fruit syndrome), birch pollen, and other fruit allergies; sensitive individuals may experience oral allergy syndrome or systemic reactions.

Kidney Disease — Gold kiwifruit contains approximately 301–315 mg potassium per 100 g, which may pose a risk for individuals with chronic kidney disease who require potassium restriction.

Ibs — While kiwifruit has shown benefit for constipation-predominant IBS, the fruit's fibre and fermentable sugar content may exacerbate symptoms such as bloating and diarrhoea in certain IBS subtypes; individual tolerance should be assessed.

Infants — Kiwifruit is a common allergenic food in young children; introduction should follow age-appropriate guidelines and be done cautiously, monitoring for allergic reactions.

Pregnancy — Gold kiwifruit is a beneficial source of folate during pregnancy (31 µg per 100 g); however, as with all foods, moderation and dietary diversity are recommended, and those with known kiwifruit allergy should avoid it.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Two Gold Kiwifruit Daily for Effective Treatment of Constipation in Adults—A Randomized Clinical Trial, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2PubMed. Beneficial Effects of Golden Kiwifruit Consumption in Overweight and Obese Young Adults, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3EFSA. Green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. Hayward) and maintenance of normal defecation: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. The nutritional and health attributes of kiwifruit: a review, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Consumption of gold kiwifruit reduces severity and duration of selected upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and increases plasma vitamin C concentration in healthy older adults, 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations