About
What it is and where it shows up.
Organic almond (Prunus dulcis) is the edible seed of the almond tree, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers under certified organic agricultural standards. It is consumed as a whole food, snack, or ingredient and is valued for its high content of monounsaturated fats, dietary fibre, vitamin E, minerals, and polyphenols.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Almonds are broadly regarded as safe for the general adult population and carry an FDA-issued qualified health claim for reducing coronary artery disease risk. The primary safety concern is tree-nut allergy, for which almonds are a federally recognised major allergen requiring mandatory label disclosure in the US, EU, and other jurisdictions. Natural aflatoxin contamination is an additional regulatory concern managed through maximum-level regulations in the EU (Regulation EC No. 1881/2006) and monitored by EFSA.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Almonds are a permitted whole food under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Tree nuts including almonds are listed as mandatory allergens requiring declaration under Standard 1.2.3.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Almonds are a permitted whole food freely traded in the EU. Aflatoxin maximum levels in almonds are regulated under Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006. Almonds are listed as a mandatory allergen (tree nuts) under EU Food Information Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011. EFSA's CONTAM Panel concluded that aflatoxin exposure from almonds should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Almonds are a recognised whole food under FSSAI regulations. Organic almonds must comply with FSSAI's Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017. Almond allergy labelling is required under FSSAI allergen declaration rules.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Almonds are a whole food with inherent GRAS status and a long history of safe use; FDA issued a qualified health claim linking nut consumption to reduced coronary artery disease risk. Almonds are listed as a major tree-nut allergen under FALCPA requiring mandatory labelling (21 CFR). US organic almonds must be pasteurised under USDA NOP rules (7 CFR Part 981). |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Nut Allergy — Almonds are a federally recognised major tree-nut allergen (FALCPA in the US; EU Regulation 1169/2011) and can trigger severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals.
Infants — Whole almonds and almond pieces present a choking hazard for infants and young children; almond-based beverages used as milk substitutes may be nutritionally inadequate for infants under 12 months.
Kidney Disease — Almonds are high in oxalate and phosphorus, which can exacerbate kidney stone formation and hyperphosphataemia in individuals with impaired renal function; portion control is advised.
Ibs — Almonds contain moderate amounts of FODMAPs (oligosaccharides) and a high fat content that may worsen bloating, cramping, or diarrhoea in IBS patients, particularly above 10–15 nuts per serving.
Diabetes — A 2023 RCT (PMID:36982382) found that long-term high-dose almond consumption may negatively affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in individuals with prediabetes; diabetic patients should discuss portion size with their clinician.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1FDA. Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Submission of Chemical and Technological Data for Food Additive Petitions and GRAS Notices for Enzyme Preparations — Major Food Allergen Declaration. fda.gov
- 2PubMed. The Effects of Almond Consumption on Cardiovascular Health and Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Review, 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. The effects of long-term almond consumption on whole-body insulin sensitivity, postprandial glucose responses, and 48 h continuous glucose concentrations in males and females with prediabetes: a randomized controlled trial, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Almonds (Prunus Dulcis Mill. D. A. Webb): A Source of Nutrients and Health-Promoting Compounds, 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Independently researched6 citations