Licorice Powder | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Licorice powder is the dried, ground root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a perennial herb cultivated across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is used primarily as a natural flavouring and sweetener in confectionery, food products, beverages, and tobacco, valued for its characteristic sweet taste derived from the active saponin glycyrrhizin, which is approximately 50 times sweeter than sucrose.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Licorice powder is generally considered safe as a food ingredient at typical dietary intake levels; however, its key bioactive component glycyrrhizin inhibits the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, leading to mineralocorticoid-like effects (sodium retention, potassium loss) that can cause hypertension, hypokalemia, and cardiac arrhythmias with chronic or excessive consumption. The WHO notes that 100 mg of glycyrrhizin per day is unlikely to cause side effects, and a proposed ADI of 0.015–0.229 mg glycyrrhizin/kg body weight/day has been established in the literature. Sensitive populations including pregnant women, individuals with hypertension, heart disease, or kidney disease face heightened risk even at lower intake levels.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	The EMA has published a final assessment report on Glycyrrhiza glabra / inflata / uralensis root, recognising its traditional herbal use. The EU does not have a centralised food additive authorisation for licorice root powder per se; food business operators are responsible for safety under Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002. Licorice-containing confectionery must be labelled with a warning for consumers with hypertension per EFSA guidance.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (Madhuyashti / Licorice / Mulethi) is listed as a permitted nutraceutical ingredient under Schedule/Part B of the FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations. Specific health benefit claims require prior approval from the Food Authority.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Licorice and its derivatives, including ammoniated glycyrrhizin, are GRAS for use in foods under 21 CFR 184.1408, with maximum use levels specified per food category. The FDA assumes glycyrrhizin levels in foods do not pose a health hazard provided foods are not consumed in excess and has issued warnings for at-risk groups.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — Consuming large amounts of licorice extract (approximately 250 g/week) during pregnancy is unsafe and can increase the risk of preterm delivery before 38 weeks gestation, per NCCIH.

Hypertension — Even small amounts of glycyrrhizin have been linked to severe adverse effects in people with hypertension, as glycyrrhizic acid mimics mineralocorticoids, promoting sodium retention and potassium loss that further elevates blood pressure.

Heart Disease — Chronic licorice consumption can cause life-threatening arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and Torsades de Pointes via hypokalemia-induced cardiac instability, per PMC8369979.

Kidney Disease — Even small amounts of glycyrrhizin from licorice products have been linked to severe adverse effects in people with kidney conditions, per NCCIH, due to impaired potassium and fluid homeostasis.

Liver Disease — Glycyrrhizinic acid undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism and enterohepatic circulation; individuals with liver disease may have altered metabolism and accumulation of active metabolites, warranting medical advice before consumption.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1NCCIH. Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety. nccih.nih.gov
2FDA. CFR 21 Part 184.1408 — Licorice and Licorice Derivatives (GRAS listing). accessdata.fda.gov
3other. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Comprehensive Review on Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Clinical Evidence and Toxicology, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4other. How Much Is Too Much? Exploring Pseudohyperaldosteronism in Glycyrrhizic Acid Toxicity From Chronic Licorice Root Consumption, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5FSSAI. FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals…) Regulations — Schedule listing Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, 2018. fssai.gov.in
6other. Licorice abuse: time to send a warning message, 2012. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched7 citations