If you've seen headlines this week about India banning ashwagandha, you might be wondering what it means. It's a reasonable question, and it deserves a straight answer.
India's Food Safety and Standards Authority, the FSSAI, has ordered a halt to the use of ashwagandha leaves and leaf extracts in food and wellness products. That's the news. But here's what the headlines aren't always making clear: this ban applies specifically and exclusively to the leaf. The root, the part of the plant that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over three thousand years, and the part used in our Ashwagandha capsules, remains fully permitted. Only roots and root-based extracts are authorised for use in the Indian market.
This article explains what happened, why it happened, and why it has no bearing on our formulation.
What the FSSAI Ashwagandha Ban Actually Covers
In an April 16 order to state authorities, the FSSAI ordered strict vigilance and legal action against any food business operators found using unauthorised leaf-based ingredients. The regulator also directed manufacturers to clearly declare the specific plant parts used on product labelling.
The advisory came after the FSSAI noticed certain manufacturers were using ashwagandha leaves in their products, a practice that was never permitted under the existing regulations to begin with. This isn't a new restriction so much as a clarification and enforcement of standards that were already in place, prompted by growing non-compliance in a rapidly expanding market.
The distinction the FSSAI is drawing is not subtle. The leaf and the root are chemically different, with meaningfully different safety profiles. The regulator has simply made clear that only one of them belongs in a supplement.
Why Ashwagandha Leaves Were Flagged for Safety Concerns
The concern centres on a compound called Withaferin-A, a withanolide found in the ashwagandha plant. Scientific studies indicate that ashwagandha leaves contain higher levels of reactive withanolides, notably Withaferin-A, which may pose health risks including liver toxicity, gastrointestinal distress, and potential neurotoxic effects.
Following a thorough review by a multidisciplinary expert committee in 2024, India's Ministry of Ayush concluded that while the roots are safe and widely used in traditional medicine for health benefits, the leaves do not share the same established safety profile.
This is a reasonable, science-led conclusion. The leaf has never been the part of the plant traditionally used for therapeutic purposes. The fact that some manufacturers were using it, likely as a cheaper input, reflects a quality problem in the market, not a problem with ashwagandha itself. The FSSAI's decision addresses exactly that.
Ashwagandha Root - A Completely Different Safety Profile
Ashwagandha root has been in continuous use in Ayurvedic medicine for more than three thousand years, specifically for stress resilience, energy, cognitive support, and recovery. This is one of the most extensively documented botanical traditions in the world. Hundreds of studies on ashwagandha root extract have established a safety and efficacy profile that has led regulators around the world to classify it as appropriate for use in complementary medicines.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, the TGA, permits the use of ashwagandha root extract in listed complementary medicines, and our TGA AUSTL listed product SuperFeast Ashwagandha (AUSTL 449619) is fully compliant with those standards. The FSSAI's decision to ban the leaf doesn't just leave the root untouched, in a meaningful sense, it reaffirms it. By drawing a clear line between the two, the regulator is validating what traditional medicine and modern science have both been saying for a long time: the root is the therapeutically relevant and safety-established part of this plant.
Our Ashwagandha Capsules Use Root Extract Only
Our Ashwagandha extract capsules is root extract exclusively. This was never a reactive decision; it was the only logical option. The traditional use, the clinical evidence, and the regulatory endorsement all point in the same direction. There was never a good reason to use the leaf, and there still isn't.
If you're holding one of our products right now, the ashwagandha in it is root extract. That's what it has always been. The Indian regulatory news this week doesn't change our extract, our sourcing, or our compliance status in any way.
What This Means for Ashwagandha Supplement Buyers
Not all ashwagandha is the same. The leaf and the root are different materials with different chemical profiles and different safety records. The FSSAI's decision draws that line clearly, and the science supports it.
Our product is root only, the part with three thousand years of traditional use behind it, hundreds of clinical studies supporting it, and full regulatory approval in Australia. That foundation hasn't changed, and it won't. What this regulatory moment does reinforce is why the details of formulation matter, and why transparency about what is actually in a product is not optional for any brand that takes this space seriously.
If you have questions about our ashwagandha product or our formulation approach, we're always happy to talk through them directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Has ashwagandha been banned in India?
A: No. India's FSSAI has banned ashwagandha leaves and leaf extracts in supplements. Ashwagandha root and root extracts remain fully permitted and are the only form authorised for use in health supplements under Indian regulations.
Q: Why was ashwagandha leaf banned?
A: Ashwagandha leaves contain higher concentrations of a compound called Withaferin-A, which has been associated with potential liver toxicity, gastrointestinal distress, and neurotoxic effects at elevated levels. The root does not share the same concerns.
Q: Is ashwagandha root extract safe?
A: Yes. Ashwagandha root has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over three thousand years and is backed by hundreds of clinical studies. It is approved for use in complementary medicines by Australia's TGA and permitted under Indian FSSAI regulations.
Q: How do I know if my ashwagandha supplement uses root or leaf?
A: Check the product label - it should clearly state "root extract." If it simply says "ashwagandha extract" or "ashwagandha powder" without specifying the plant part, contact the manufacturer for clarification.
Q: Is your ashwagandha product affected by the FSSAI ban?
A: No. Our ashwagandha capsules use root extract exclusively. The FSSAI ban on ashwagandha leaves has absolutely no impact on our product, formulation, or compliance status.
