India bans ashwagandha leaf in food products, recalibrating supply chains
The Indian government has prohibited ashwagandha leaf in food supplements, prompting immediate supply chain re-evaluation and potential cost increases for brands reliant on whole-plant extracts. This aligns with increased European regulatory scrutiny.
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New Delhi, India — 04 May 2026
India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) issued an advisory on 16 April 2026, explicitly prohibiting the use of ashwagandha leaves in crude, extract, or any other form within food products and health supplements. This directive mandates strict compliance from all Food Business Operators (FBOs), with non-adherence risking action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The ban references Schedule IV of the Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose regulations, which delineates permitted botanicals. While major root-only suppliers have welcomed the move, segments of the industry have criticized the lack of scientific evidence for harm and foresee economic ramifications, including reduced farmer income and a narrower scope for therapeutic product development.
This Indian regulation emerges amid heightened European scrutiny concerning ashwagandha safety, potentially setting a precedent for global standards. Manufacturers previously utilizing whole-plant extracts must now pivot to root-only sourcing, impacting formulation, cost structures, and supplier relationships. The debate continues regarding the safety profiles of both root and leaf extracts, with some arguing for evidence-based regulatory decisions over blanket prohibitions.
Separately, Health Canada’s Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) has published a monograph specifically for prebiotics. This document establishes clear guidelines for product formulation and permitted health claims in Canada, adopting the 2017 International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) definition. The monograph lists accepted ingredients such as Inulin, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and specific Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), and distinguishes between prebiotic and fibre claims.
Meanwhile, the Indian sports nutrition market presents significant growth opportunities despite challenges like misinformation, price sensitivity, and inconsistent product quality. Suhel Vats of BigMuscles Nutrition highlights the need for industry-wide education and transparency to build consumer trust, advocating for ingredient integrity over price-driven purchasing. This evolving market requires brands to adopt consumer-centric, omnichannel strategies to capture market share.
What this means for United Kingdom
UK brand owners sourcing ashwagandha from India must immediately verify that their raw material suppliers comply with the new FSSAI ban on ashwagandha leaf, ensuring all imports are root-only extracts. Failure to do so risks product impoundment and reputational damage. Reformulation timelines should be assessed, considering potential 3-4 month lead times for new root-only batches and a likely 10-15% increase in ingredient costs. Brands should also prepare for potential shifts in consumer perception if European regulators follow India's lead. This presents an opportunity for UK manufacturers with certified root-only supply chains to gain market share by assuring compliance and ingredient purity.
This trend is being actively addressed by UK manufacturing partners including Supplement Factory.