What the current FSA review actually means
Last updated 10 September 2026
The short answer
No. As of 10 September 2026, ashwagandha has not been banned in the UK.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reviewing the safety of ashwagandha in food supplements. The scientific assessment is being undertaken by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), whose published material says the work is ongoing and that a final statement is expected in 2026.
That is an important distinction. A safety review can lead to advice or regulatory action, but it is not itself a ban. No final UK restriction has been announced, and it would be misleading to claim that a prohibition is certain.
We are following the process closely because ashwagandha is used in several Adaptogenic Apothecary formulas. We believe the useful questions are not only whether a product contains ashwagandha, but which part of the plant is used, where it was grown, how it was processed, how much is present and whether every batch can be traced and verified. These are the questions our Medical Herbalist, Sara Rooney, considers when sourcing herbs and developing our formulas.
Why is ashwagandha being reviewed?
Ashwagandha has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic practice as a rasayana—a restorative herb traditionally associated with vitality and resilience. Traditional practice, however, is not a substitute for modern safety assessment. Plant part, preparation, quantity, context and the individual taking it all matter.
Modern products vary widely, from whole-root powders to concentrated extracts and multi-ingredient blends. As demand has grown, so has the range of products and suppliers. That makes provenance, identity, formulation, labelling and testing more—not less—important.
In July 2024, the FSA opened a call for evidence about ashwagandha food supplements. It sought information on safety and toxicology, sourcing, manufacturing, composition, contaminants and consumer use. The agency said the evidence would support a risk assessment and inform possible future risk-management advice.
The FSA says that there are currently no established safe levels or set limits for ashwagandha in UK food supplements. Its review is considering reported associations including effects on thyroid hormone levels and blood sugar, and potential liver toxicity.
The call for evidence closed in September 2024. A summary published in June 2026 records 19 responses from food businesses, industry representatives, members of the public and a university research team. The evidence is now being considered through the FSA and COT process.
What has the UK actually decided?
At the time of writing, the published position is:
ashwagandha has not been banned in the UK;
the FSA’s call for evidence has closed;
the COT safety review is ongoing;
a final COT statement is expected in 2026; and
no final risk-management measure has been announced.
Under current UK guidance, food supplements are regulated as foods. Businesses placing them on the market are responsible for ensuring that they are safe, correctly labelled and compliant with applicable food law. Supplements must not be presented as products that prevent, treat or cure disease.
The FSA also distinguishes between uses of ashwagandha for novel-food purposes. Its current guidance says that plant parts used in food supplements are not considered novel, while use in other foods may require novel-food authorisation. This is separate from the safety review and should not be confused with a newly announced ban.
What could happen after the review?
Until the scientific assessment and any subsequent government decision are published, nobody can responsibly state the outcome. Possible routes could include:
no material change to the current position;
updated advice for consumers or industry;
additional warnings, labelling or quality requirements;
limits affecting dose, plant part, preparation or product format; or
a restriction on some or all uses.
These are scenarios, not predictions. The final evidence may support one of them, a combination of them or a different approach. The precise legal scope of any future measure would also matter.
Does “under review” mean ashwagandha is unsafe?
No. A review is not a finding that every ashwagandha product is unsafe. Ashwagandha root has a long history of traditional use, but products sold under the same familiar ingredient name can differ substantially. The purpose of a risk assessment is to examine the available evidence systematically, including plant part, preparation, dose, duration, manufacturing, contaminants, interactions and reports of adverse effects.
The FSA’s 2025/26 retail surveillance work reinforces the importance of product quality. It tested 40 ashwagandha supplements and found that only six met all of the assessment criteria. Most failures involved labelling, while some samples also raised contaminant concerns. That finding does not establish that all ashwagandha is unsafe. It does show why traceable sourcing, accurate labels, clear specifications and appropriate testing matter.
Why quality, plant part and formulation matter
“Contains ashwagandha” tells you surprisingly little on its own. Two products can carry the same ingredient name while differing in plant part, growing and processing conditions, whether they use a whole-root powder or an extract, concentration, chemical profile, dose, testing and the other ingredients around them.
The root and leaf are not identical raw materials. Nor is a traditional powder automatically equivalent to a concentrated extract. This does not mean that one format is inherently right for everyone; it means that accurate identity, specification and formulation are essential.
When considering an ashwagandha product, useful questions include:
Is it made from the root, leaf or a mixture?
Where was the plant grown and where was it processed?
Is it a whole powder or an extract?
If it is an extract, what is it standardised to and at what concentration?
What is the recommended daily quantity?
Does the supplier test identity, microbiology and relevant contaminants?
Can the company trace the material and provide a specification or Certificate of Analysis?
What happens if its usual ingredient is unavailable—does the company wait, or substitute something else?
These are not minor marketing details. They are part of responsible formulation.
Our approach at Adaptogenic Apothecary
We do not select an ingredient simply because it is fashionable or because a high dose looks impressive on the front of a pack. Sara uses her training and practical experience as a qualified Medical Herbalist to consider the purpose of each formula, the traditional context and available evidence, the ingredient’s source and specification, its quantity and how it works alongside the rest of the blend.
Across every Adaptogenic Apothecary formula that contains ashwagandha, we use only pure organic root powder. In Calm and our other blends, it is selected as one part of a considered formulation rather than treated as a standalone “more is better” ingredient. We maintain supplier and batch documentation and do not regard a cheaper substitute as equivalent merely because it carries the same common name.
You can read more about our ingredients and formulation approach, or explore our full formula range.
What should people taking ashwagandha do now?
There is no published UK ban requiring consumers to stop taking ashwagandha at the time of writing. People who use a well-specified product should not interpret the existence of a review as proof that their supplement has suddenly become prohibited.
Follow the label and do not exceed the stated serving. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or appropriately qualified healthcare professional before using a supplement if you take prescribed medicines, have an existing health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are unsure whether it is suitable for you. If you believe a supplement is causing an adverse effect, stop taking it and seek appropriate medical advice. Do not stop or change prescribed medication because of information in this article.
What we are doing while the review continues
Ingredient quality has always been central to the Adaptogenic Apothecary ethos. Careful sourcing, supplier scrutiny and formulation by Sara are established parts of our process.
We are also examining alternative formulations so that we can respond responsibly if official advice changes. This is sensible contingency planning: understand the evidence, maintain high quality standards, prepare for more than one outcome and avoid rushed decisions that could inconvenience customers.
If the authorities publish new advice, we will update this page, explain what it means in plain English and make any necessary product changes. We will date every material update so readers can see when the information was checked.
Frequently asked questions
Is ashwagandha illegal in the UK?
No. As of 10 September 2026, no UK-wide ban on ashwagandha food supplements has been announced. Products must still comply with general food and food-supplement law.
Has the FSA banned ashwagandha?
No. The FSA gathered evidence and asked the COT to assess safety. The review is ongoing. Evidence gathering and risk assessment are not the same as a final restriction.
When will the UK decide?
The COT has said that a final statement is expected in 2026. A scientific statement may then inform risk-management advice and any later government decision. There is no confirmed date for a ban or other restriction because no such outcome has been announced.
Why are people saying ashwagandha may be banned?
The FSA review is examining safety questions and possible future risk-management options. Online discussion has sometimes turned that uncertainty into a definite claim. The accurate position is that a review is underway and its final regulatory consequences are not yet known.
Will Adaptogenic Apothecary reformulate its products?
We are preparing responsible alternatives. If official guidance affects any formula, we will explain the change clearly and protect continuity for customers wherever possible.
A final word
This is exactly the kind of subject on which careful language matters. “Being reviewed” is not the same as “being banned”. And the words “contains ashwagandha” do not tell you everything about a product’s quality or formulation.
For now, customers can be reassured that no UK ban has been announced. We will continue to follow the official process and keep our knowledge and products aligned with the applicable rules.
For individual advice about supplements, medicines or a health condition, please speak to an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
