Onion-Garlic Dehydrated Powder

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Onion-garlic dehydrated powder is a blend of powders obtained by drying Allium cepa (onion) and Allium sativum (garlic) bulbs without bleaching or precooking, removing moisture under controlled conditions to yield a free-flowing, shelf-stable powder. It is widely used as a natural flavouring, seasoning, and functional food ingredient in processed foods, soups, sauces, snacks, and spice blends.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Both dehydrated onion and garlic powders are broadly recognised as safe for the general adult population, with no established ADI and no IARC carcinogenicity classification; they are regulated as spices/natural flavourings under FDA 21 CFR 182 (GRAS) and FSSAI FSS Regulations 2010. High-dose supplemental use may cause gastrointestinal irritation (heartburn, bloating), and garlic's organosulfur compounds can potentiate antiplatelet/anticoagulant effects at high doses. Salmonella contamination is a documented microbiological hazard for dehydrated forms requiring good manufacturing practices.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Dehydrated onion and garlic powders are permitted as spices and herbs under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. No specific maximum limit or ADI; used as per GMP.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Dried/dehydrated onion and garlic are permitted as natural food flavourings under Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings used in or on foods. No specific numeric ADI established for food-use concentrations. Used in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP).source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Dehydrated Garlic (Lahsun) regulated under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, Chapter 2.9; Dehydrated Onion (Sukha Pyaj) under Regulation 5.8.29 of FSS Regulations 2010. Product must be free from added colouring matter, mould, living/dead insects, and any other harmful substances. Moisture content for vegetable powders must not exceed 5% (m/m); acid insoluble ash not more than 0.5%. Peroxidase test must be negative.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Garlic (Allium sativum) listed under 21 CFR 184.1317 as GRAS for use as a spice, natural flavour, and natural flavouring substance. Dehydrated onion and garlic are classified as spices/natural flavourings under 21 CFR 182.10 and 182.20 with GMP usage conditions. No numerical ADI established.

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Ibs — Onion and garlic are high-FODMAP foods (fructans); dehydrated powders retain FODMAPs and can trigger bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea in IBS patients, particularly those sensitive to fructans.

Ibd — Allium-derived sulfur compounds and fibres may exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms during active flares of inflammatory bowel disease.

Gout — No direct concern for purines; however high-dose garlic supplements may interact with urate-lowering therapies — culinary powder use is generally considered safe but monitoring is advisable.

Heart Disease — Garlic's organosulfur compounds exhibit antiplatelet and mild anticoagulant activity; high-dose garlic powder in supplements may potentiate antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs (e.g., warfarin, aspirin) in patients with heart disease.

Other — Individuals on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel) should exercise caution with high intakes of dehydrated garlic powder, as garlic organosulfur compounds can enhance bleeding risk according to clinical pharmacology literature.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. 21 CFR 184.1317 – Garlic (GRAS listing, FDA Code of Federal Regulations Title 21). accessdata.fda.gov
2FDA. Risk Profile: Pathogens and Filth in Spices (FDA, CFSAN). fda.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations – Chapter 2.9: Salt, Spices, Condiments and Related Products (Version 2, November 2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
4PubMed. LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of a Dietary Supplement Containing Onion and Garlic Extract Used in Healthy Volunteers (PMC11356941), 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Garlic bioactive substances and their therapeutic applications for improving human health: a comprehensive review (PMC11194342), 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6PubMed. , 2015.

Independently researched6 citations