Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus / Cymbopogon flexuosus)

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Lemongrass is a tropical perennial grass of the genus Cymbopogon (primarily C. citratus and C. flexuosus) whose leaves and essential oil are widely used as a flavoring agent, natural preservative, and aromatic herb in food and beverages. Its characteristic lemon-like aroma and bioactivity are attributed primarily to citral (65–85% of the essential oil), a mixture of the monoterpene aldehydes geranial and neral.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

The U.S. FDA recognizes lemongrass oil as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a natural flavoring substance under 21 CFR 182.20, and the FEMA Expert Panel re-affirmed its GRAS status in 2023. No formal ADI has been established; culinary doses are broadly considered safe for the general population with no significant regulatory concern in any major jurisdiction. High-dose consumption such as concentrated extracts or undiluted essential oil may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, and pregnant women are traditionally advised to avoid large supplemental amounts due to reported uterotonic properties.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Permitted as an herb/spice and natural flavoring source under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. No specific E- or INS-number assigned; no maximum use level set for culinary application.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Lemongrass is permitted as a traditional herb/spice in foods and as a source material for natural flavourings under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings used in or on foods. No specific maximum use level is established for the whole herb in traditional culinary applications. No E-number assigned.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Permitted as a spice, herb, and flavoring ingredient under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. India is a major global producer of lemongrass, accounting for approximately one-quarter of total global production. No maximum use level specified for traditional culinary use.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus DC. and Cymbopogon flexuosus Stapf) is recognized as GRAS under 21 CFR 182.20 as a natural flavoring substance when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice. Also listed in FDA's Substances Added to Food (EAFUS) database.

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — High-dose or supplemental lemongrass consumption (e.g., teas, extracts, or essential oil) should be approached with caution during pregnancy due to traditional reports of uterotonic effects; normal culinary amounts are generally considered safe.

Infants — Lemongrass essential oil is not appropriate in products intended for infants, as the high citral content may be irritating to sensitive mucous membranes and skin at elevated concentrations.

Lactation — Insufficient human safety data exists for high-dose lemongrass supplementation during breastfeeding; culinary use is generally considered safe but concentrated extracts should be avoided as a precaution.

Other — Individuals with known citral or fragrance-mix contact sensitivity may experience allergic reactions to high-concentration lemongrass oil preparations; typical culinary doses are well tolerated in the general population.

Liver Disease — Some animal studies suggest high doses of lemongrass oil constituents (particularly citral) may affect hepatic enzyme activity; patients with pre-existing liver disease should consult a physician before using concentrated lemongrass supplements.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) — Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratus DC. and Cymbopogon flexuosus Stapf). hfpappexternal.fda.gov
2other. ChemIDplus — Lemongrass Oil CAS 8007-02-1. chem.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Recent Advances in Lemongrass Essential Oil: Food Safety, Preservation, and Bioactivity in Food Systems, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. FEMA GRAS assessment of natural flavor complexes: Lemongrass oil, chamomile oils, citronella oil and related flavoring ingredients, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Lemongrass Essential Oil Components with Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations