About
What it is and where it shows up.
Organic cashew nut is the edible seed of Anacardium occidentale, a tropical tree native to Brazil and widely cultivated in India, Vietnam, and Africa. It is consumed as a whole nut snack, in cooking, and as a base for dairy-free products such as cashew milk and cashew butter; the 'organic' designation indicates cultivation without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers under certified organic standards.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Cashew nuts are nutritionally rich and broadly safe for the general adult population, providing healthy unsaturated fats, protein, magnesium, and copper with no established ADI or upper intake limit. However, cashew is classified as a global priority allergen by FAO/WHO and EFSA, capable of triggering reactions ranging from mild oral allergy syndrome to life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals. No IARC carcinogenicity classification applies; there is no evidence of harm at typical dietary intake for non-allergic adults.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Cashew nut is approved as a food ingredient. Classified as a priority allergen under FSANZ Food Standards Code Standard 1.2.3. Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL 3.0) system recommends an ED01 reference dose of 0.05 mg total cashew protein for precautionary labelling purposes.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Cashew nut is approved for consumption and trade in the EU. It is listed as a mandatory declared allergen under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (Annex II, tree nuts category). All food products containing cashew must declare its presence on the label; no consumption ban or restriction on use.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Cashew nut is approved for sale and consumption. Listed as a mandatory allergen under UK retained law equivalent to EU Regulation 1169/2011 (as amended by The Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022). Mandatory declaration required on both pre-packed and non-prepacked foods.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Cashew nuts are approved food items regulated under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Raw cashew nuts are exempt from FSSAI import clearance per the FSSAI direction dated 27 October 2017. Organic cashews must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017, and carry the 'Jaivik Bharat' logo. India is a leading producer of cashew nuts per FSSAI's own FSMS guidance. |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Nut Allergy — Cashew is classified as a global priority allergen by FAO/WHO and EFSA; ingestion by sensitised individuals can trigger reactions ranging from mild oral allergy syndrome to life-threatening anaphylaxis, and complete avoidance is the only management strategy.
Shellfish Allergy — Cross-reactivity between cashew (and other tree nuts) and shellfish allergens has been reported in some individuals due to shared tropomyosin-like proteins; allergic individuals should consult a physician before consumption.
Kidney Disease — Cashew nuts are relatively high in oxalates and phosphorus, which may exacerbate kidney stone formation or phosphorus load in individuals with chronic kidney disease; dietary restriction is commonly advised by nephrologists.
Infants — Whole cashew nuts pose a choking hazard for infants and young children under 3 years; nut-based foods should only be introduced in age-appropriate forms and under medical or dietitian guidance.
Ibs — Cashew nuts contain moderate amounts of FODMAPs (fructans and GOS) and high fat content, which may trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, particularly those following a low-FODMAP diet.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1WHO. Risk Assessment of Food Allergens Part 2: Review and Establish Reference Doses for Priority Allergens — FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, 2022. who.int
- 2PubMed. Tree Nuts and Peanuts as a Source of Beneficial Compounds and a Threat for Allergic Consumers: Overview on Methods for Their Detection in Complex Food Products, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FSSAI. Order: Direction with regard to exemption from FSSAI clearance in case of import of raw cashew nuts, 2017. archive.fssai.gov.in
- 4FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017, 2017. archive.fssai.gov.in
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of allergenic foods and food ingredients for labelling purposes (EFSA NDA Panel), 2014. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations