India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, has issued a fresh advisory directing food business operators to use only Ashwagandha roots and their extracts in food products, while prohibiting the use of Ashwagandha leaves in any form. The directive applies to products such as health supplements, nutraceuticals, food for special dietary use, and food for special medical purposes, where Ashwagandha is currently permitted under existing regulations.
According to the regulator, it has come to notice that several manufacturers are incorporating Ashwagandha leaves and leaf extracts in their formulations despite the absence of approval under the prescribed standards. Clarifying the regulatory position, the authority stated that the use of Ashwagandha leaves—whether in crude form, extract form, or any other variation—is not permitted under the current food safety regulations.
The advisory also highlighted that the Ministry of AYUSH has similarly instructed drug and product manufacturers to restrict usage to Ashwagandha roots and their extracts only. The move is aimed at ensuring uniformity in the use of botanical ingredients across food and traditional wellness products.
To strengthen enforcement, the FSSAI has asked state food safety commissioners and enforcement officials to maintain strict vigilance and ensure compliance with the directive. The latest clarification is expected to impact nutraceutical and herbal supplement manufacturers, prompting them to review ingredient sourcing and product formulations to align with regulatory requirements.
