Industry Odisha Bureau, April 18: FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) – the statutory regulatory body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of Government of India (GoI) has reportedly imposed a blanket ban on the use of ‘Ashwagandha’ (Withania somnifera) in the country despite being well-known to be good for health wellness.
As per reports, the FSSAI has reportedly dashed a circular on April 16 to all the Food Safety Commissioners and licensing authorities of the States and Union Territories (UTs) issuing strict instructions “to maintain strict vigilance as well as initiate legal action against any food business operators (FBOs) found using unauthorized leaf-based ingredients”.
The FSSAI has simultaneously directed manufacturers to religiously“comply with the labeling rules that mandate clear declaration of the specific plant parts used in the product”.
Reportedly, the April 16 FSSAI communication mentions: “It has been brought to the notice of FSSAl that certain manufacturers of these products are using Ashwagandha leaves and its extracts in their products. In this regard, it is clarified that the use of Ashwagandha leaves in crude or extract or any other form is not permitted under the said regulations”.
FSSAI has warned against any sort of deviations or violations that shall attract punitive actions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations.
Reports revealed that specific scientific research has detected “high concentrations of reactive Withanolides, chiefly Withaferin-A, available in the Ashwagandha leaves posing health risks like Hepatotoxicity (liver damage), Neurotoxicity (damage to the central or peripheral nervous system caused by exposure to natural or human-made toxic substances/neurotoxins), and also gastrointestinal distress (vomitting, diarrhoea)”.
In pursuance of the FSSAI’s ban order and directives issued, all the Indian manufacturers and FBOs dealing in nutraceuticals have reportedly pledged compliance forthwith.
The major Indian manufacturers of nutraceuticals offering Ashwagandha products are reportedly Baidyanath, Dabur India, Zandu, Himalaya Wellness and Patanjali.
It is being reported that the FSSAI’s blanket ban on use of Ashwagandha by manufacturers in India could take a heavy toll on the nutraceutical industry that reportedly nets a whopping income of $38.77 billion.
Similarly, Ashwagandha is reportedly a prime product with an estimated market worth of $928.5 million in 2026, sources informed.
Besides, Ashwagandha products have been reported to be a key adaptogenic herb also sold in forms of capsules, gummies, fortified beverages and tea blends for which those marketing have reportedly been popular in foreign countries earning a fabulous fortune for the Indian nutraceitical industry.
