About
What it is and where it shows up.
Green coffee bean extract (GCBE) is derived from unroasted seeds of Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora and is rich in chlorogenic acids (CGAs), caffeine, and other polyphenols. It is used primarily as a dietary supplement and functional food ingredient for its antioxidant, weight-management, and metabolic health properties.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
GCBE is generally considered safe for healthy adults at typical supplemental doses (up to ~1050 mg/day GCA); clinical trials report no serious adverse events at these levels. However, caffeine content can cause cardiovascular and CNS stimulation, and EFSA recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 400 mg/day for adults. Mycotoxin enrichment (ochratoxin A, fumonisins) is a documented risk specific to green coffee extracts and warrants quality-control scrutiny.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Green coffee (unroasted beans) has a history of consumption in Europe and is not classified as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 400 mg/day for adults when used in food supplements; chlorogenic acid reference limit of <100 mg/L applies in certain beverage contexts. Mycotoxin enrichment in extracts is flagged as a quality/safety concern. ADI value here refers specifically to caffeine component.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Coffea arabica / C. robusta — green coffee seed extract is listed in FSSAI's Schedule of Permitted Plant Ingredients (Regulation 51) for use in nutraceuticals and health supplements. No specific maximum daily intake for GCBE is established; purity criteria may follow Indian Pharmacopoeia or FAO/WHO JECFA standards per FSSAI nutraceutical regulations (2022 direction).source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Coffee extract (Coffea spp.) is listed in the FDA's Inventory of GRAS Notices and Substances. Green coffee bean extract is marketed as a dietary supplement under DSHEA (21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)); no specific maximum intake established by FDA for GCBE as a supplement. Coffee fruit extract (a related material) received GRAS affirmation (GRN 000868) for use in certain beverages and food products.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Pregnancy — GCBE contains caffeine, and EFSA and WHO advise pregnant women to limit caffeine intake to ≤200 mg/day due to risk of fetal growth restriction; the caffeine content in GCBE supplements may contribute meaningfully to total daily caffeine exposure.
Lactation — Caffeine in GCBE passes into breast milk and may cause irritability or sleep disturbance in nursing infants; lactating women should monitor total caffeine intake from all sources.
Infants — GCBE contains caffeine and is not intended for use in infant formula or infant foods; FSSAI nutraceutical regulations explicitly exclude products containing stimulants from use by infants and children under 5.
Children — Caffeine-containing supplements including GCBE are not recommended for children; FSSAI labelling regulations for nutraceuticals require a statement that products are not to be used by children under 5 years.
Hypertension — Caffeine in GCBE may cause transient increases in blood pressure; individuals with hypertension should consult a doctor before using GCBE supplements, especially at higher doses.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1PubMed. Chlorogenic acid in green bean coffee on body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2FDA. GRAS Notice 868: Coffee fruit extract — FDA Response Letter, 2020. fda.gov
- 3EFSA. EFSA Technical Report on notification of infusion from coffee leaves (Coffea arabica L. and/or Coffea canephora) as a traditional food from a third country pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations — Schedule of Permitted Plant Ingredients (Regulation 51), 2018. fssai.gov.in
- 5PubMed. The potential effects of chlorogenic acid, the main phenolic components in coffee, on health: a comprehensive review of the literature, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Independently researched7 citations