Star Anise | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Star anise (Illicium verum Hook. f.) is a dried star-shaped fruit native to southern China, widely used as a spice and flavouring in food due to its sweet, liquorice-like aroma derived primarily from trans-anethole (75–90% of essential oil). It is used in both whole and powdered form in cooking, beverages, and as a source of essential oil for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Chinese star anise is GRAS for the general adult population at culinary intake levels, and its primary active compound trans-anethole is considered non-genotoxic and non-carcinogenic at low doses. The principal safety concern is adulteration with toxic Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which contains potent GABA-receptor-blocking neurotoxins (anisatin, neoanisatin, pseudoanisatin) and has caused seizures and neurological illness, particularly in infants given star anise teas. Anethole can also act as a skin sensitizer in occupational or high-dose exposure settings.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Star anise oil (Illicium verum) is authorised as a feed additive in the EU Register under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Individual flavouring components (e.g., trans-anethole) are separately assessed and authorised for food use via the EU Flavour Information System (FLAVIS). EFSA has flagged estragole and safrole as substances of concern present in the essential oil.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Star anise is regulated under FSSAI Food Product Standards Chapter 2.9 (Salt, Spices, Condiments and Related Products) with defined quality standards including colour (brownish red or reddish brown), characteristic odour, and freedom from insects, moulds, and extraneous matter. FBOs required to comply by July 1, 2021.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is listed as GRAS as a spice and flavouring. FDA advisory (2003) warned against consumption of star anise teas due to risk of adulteration with toxic Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum).source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — Star anise teas have caused serious neurological events (seizures, cyanosis, jitteriness) in infants, linked to adulteration with toxic Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) or excess anethole; FDA advises consumers not to give star anise teas to infants.

Children — Concentrated star anise preparations (teas, extracts) have been associated with toxicity in young children; culinary amounts are generally tolerated but medicinal or herbal tea use should be avoided.

Pregnancy — Anethole and estragole present in star anise essential oil have raised reproductive safety concerns at high doses; culinary use is generally considered acceptable but medicinal-strength preparations should be avoided during pregnancy.

Lactation — Anethole is excreted into breastmilk and excessive maternal use of anise-containing herbal teas has caused toxicity signs consistent with anethole exposure in breastfed newborns; high-dose preparations should be avoided.

Epilepsy — Adulteration of star anise products with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) can introduce anisatin, a potent GABA-receptor antagonist that can provoke seizures, posing heightened risk for those with epilepsy.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Anise (LactMed entry) — National Library of Medicine. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2FDA. FDA GRAS Substances Database: anise, star (Illicium verum Hook. f.), 2025. hfpappexternal.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, 04.11.2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
4EFSA. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the fruit of Illicium verum Hook.f. (star anise oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl), 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Illicium verum (Star Anise) and Trans-Anethole as Valuable Raw Materials for Medicinal and Cosmetic Applications, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6PubMed. Apparent life-threatening event in infants: think about star anise intoxication!, 2011.

Independently researched7 citations