Quillaia Extract | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Quillaia extract is obtained by aqueous extraction of the milled inner bark or wood of Quillaja saponaria Molina (family Rosaceae), a large evergreen tree native to South America and China. It contains over 100 triterpenoid saponins, polyphenols, tannins, sugars and calcium oxalate, and is used in food primarily as a foaming agent and emulsifier in beverages.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation established an ADI of 3 mg saponins/kg bw per day for E 999, based on a NOAEL of 1,500 mg/kg bw per day from a 2-year rat study and an uncertainty factor of 100; all population group exposures under current authorised uses remain below this ADI. The principal toxicological concern is the saponin fraction, with genotoxicity data not indicating a concern at food-relevant exposures. The extract also contains calcium oxalate, which at high intake could theoretically contribute to the oxalate burden and risk of kidney stone formation.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	FSANZ established a group ADI of 0–1 mg quillaia saponins/kg bw covering both Type 1 (unpurified) and Type 2 (saponin-enriched) extracts, following JECFA's assessment. Permitted as an emulsifier and foaming agent under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II; currently authorised in food categories FC 4.1.4 (flavoured drinks) and FC 14.2.3 (cider and perry, with exclusions). ADI of 3 mg saponins/kg bw/day established by EFSA FAF Panel (2019). Extension of use in food supplements under evaluation as of 2024; use as carrier for glazing agents on fresh fruits/vegetables also proposed. Specification limits for toxic elements (Pb, Hg, As) recommended for reduction; calcium oxalate limit of 0.6% on saponins basis recommended.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Permitted as a natural flavouring under 21 CFR 172.510. Also holds FEMA GRAS status with FEMA number 2973. Quillaia Extract Type 2 (QET2) additionally reviewed under GRAS Notice GRN No. 903 (2020); no specific maximum use level set at federal level.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — EFSA explicitly excluded food supplements for infants and young children from proposed extensions of use for E 999, and FSANZ's dietary exposure assessment also did not extend to children under 15 years, reflecting regulatory caution about saponin exposure at this life stage.

Children — JECFA's group ADI of 0–1 mg saponins/kg bw is notably stricter than EFSA's 3 mg/kg bw, and children's higher beverage consumption per kg body weight may bring exposure closer to these limits, warranting caution.

Kidney Disease — Quillaia extract contains calcium oxalate; EFSA's 2024 follow-up opinion flagged that excessive oxalate intake could contribute to kidney stone formation, posing an elevated risk for individuals with pre-existing kidney disease or a history of oxalate kidney stones.

Pregnancy — No specific regulatory guidance on quillaia extract during pregnancy has been issued, but given that saponins at higher doses have haemolytic properties and the ADI is set with a 100-fold uncertainty factor, pregnant women should seek medical advice before consuming supplements or foods with high quillaia extract content.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1WHO. JECFA evaluation: Quillaia Extract Type 2 — JECFA Database. apps.who.int
2other. Application A1075 Quillaia Extract — FSANZ Safety Assessment. foodstandards.gov.au
3EFSA. Scientific opinion on the extension of uses of quillaia extract (E 999) as a food additive, 2024. efsa.europa.eu
4EFSA. Follow-up of the re-evaluation of quillaia extract (E 999) as a food additive and safety of the proposed extension of uses, 2024. efsa.europa.eu
5EFSA. Re-evaluation of Quillaia extract (E 999) as a food additive and safety of the proposed extension of use, 2019. efsa.europa.eu

Independently researched5 citations