Mint Leaves Powder

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Mint leaves powder is the dried and ground form of leaves from Mentha species (primarily Mentha spicata or Mentha piperita), belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It is widely used as a culinary herb, flavouring agent, and spice in savory dishes, beverages, confectionary, and food products worldwide.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Mint leaves powder is generally recognized as safe for the general adult population at typical food-use levels; peppermint tea and food-amounts of mint leaf appear to be safe with no established ADI. The long-term safety of consuming large amounts of peppermint leaf is not fully established. Menthol, a key constituent, should not be inhaled or applied to the face of infants or small children as it may negatively affect breathing; spearmint extracts at high doses have shown anti-androgenic effects in animal studies.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Mint (Mentha species) is used as a food ingredient and flavouring in the EU. Dried mint herb and mint-derived flavourings fall under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings. No numerical ADI established for mint leaf powder as a food ingredient/spice.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Mint is explicitly listed among recognized spices in India under FSSAI Food Safety Management System (FSMS) guidance for spice processing. Cereal grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and spices included in the Spices Board of India list may be used as processed ingredients; specific health benefit claims require prior FSSAI approval.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Mint (Mentha species) is recognized as GRAS as a spice, natural flavoring, and natural seasoning under 21 CFR Part 182. Used at GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) levels in food as a flavoring/spice. No numerical ADI established.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — Menthol present in mint should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of infants or small children as it may negatively affect their breathing (NCCIH).

Pregnancy — Oral peppermint in food amounts is likely safe during pregnancy, but the safety of medicinal amounts of mint is not established; caution is warranted at doses beyond typical culinary use (NCCIH).

Lactation — Little is known about the safety of oral peppermint in medicinal amounts during breastfeeding; food-level amounts are likely safe but higher doses should be used cautiously (NCCIH).

Ibs — Peppermint oil taken alone may worsen indigestion and IBS symptoms in some individuals, and high-dose mint preparations can exert relaxant effects on intestinal smooth muscle, so those with IBS should consult a doctor before using in medicinal amounts (NCCIH, PMC).

Other — High doses of spearmint extract have shown anti-androgenic effects and hypothalamic oxidative stress in male rat models; individuals consuming very large quantities regularly should exercise caution (PubMed PMID:25363487).

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1NCCIH. Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety. nccih.nih.gov
2PubMed. Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Mentha spicata, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Mentha: Nutritional and Health Attributes to Treat Various Ailments Including Cardiovascular Diseases, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. The Wonderful Activities of the Genus Mentha: Not Only Antioxidant Properties, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5FSSAI. Guidance Document: Food Safety Management System (FSMS) for Spice Processing, 2018. fssai.gov.in
6PubMed. Efficacy of leaves (drumstick, mint and curry leaves) powder as natural preservatives in restructured chicken block, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched6 citations