About
Hops are the dried, resinous female flower cones of the perennial vine Humulus lupulus (family Cannabaceae), used primarily to impart bitterness, aroma, and flavour to beer and other foods. Their key bioactive constituents include alpha-acids (humulones), beta-acids (lupulones), volatile essential oils, tannins, and the phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin.
Safety summary
Hops are broadly considered safe for the general adult population with a long history of food use and no established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI); no IARC carcinogenicity classification applies and no clinically apparent liver injury has been reported. The phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin is one of the most potent plant-derived estrogens known in vitro, raising theoretical concerns for hormone-sensitive conditions at high supplemental doses. At typical food/beverage intake levels, no significant regulatory safety concern has been identified by FDA, EFSA, or WHO/JECFA.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | EFSA FEEDAP Panel assessed supercritical CO2 extract of Humulus lupulus L. flos (Beta Rich Hop Extract) under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 as a sensory/flavouring additive for all animal species at up to 50 mg/kg complete feed. Hop-derived flavourings used in food are regulated as natural flavourings under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008; no specific EU food-use restriction or ADI established for whole hops or hop extract used in brewing.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations explicitly permit hops or hop extracts in beer manufacture to impart bitter taste and flavour. FSSAI's food additives manual excludes hops from the definition of food additives, treating them as a natural brewing ingredient. No quantitative maximum level or ADI established.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Hops (whole), hops extract, and hops oil are listed in FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory as FEMA GRAS flavouring substances under 21 CFR 172.510; used in conjunction with flavours and as flavouring adjuncts. No quantitative limit specified; use at GMP levels.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. Substances Added to Food – Hops, Extract (Humulus lupulus L.). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
- 2FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 – FSSAI Compendium, 2021. fssai.gov.in
- 3EFSA. Safety and efficacy of a supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Humulus lupulus L. flos when used as a feed flavouring for all animal species, 2018. efsa.europa.eu
- 4PubMed. Anticancer Activity and Mechanism of Xanthohumol: A Prenylated Flavonoid From Hops (Humulus lupulus L.), 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5other. LiverTox: Hops (Humulus lupulus) – NIH National Library of Medicine, 2018. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. The pharmacognosy of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) with an emphasis on estrogenic properties, 2007. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
