Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices, often called "red gold," prized for its distinctive colour, aroma and flavour.
It is a common ingredient in dishes ranging from biryani and paella to desserts and drinks.
But some claims online warn that consuming too much saffron can be toxic and even fatal. Is there any truth to this claim?
Verdict:
TRUE
While saffron is generally considered safe when used in recommended culinary amounts, consuming too much can instead be harmful.
Saffron (Crocus sativus) contains compounds including crocin, picrocrocin and safranal.
Research has found that its toxicity is dose-dependent, meaning the risks increase as the amount consumed rises.
At high doses, saffron can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and diarrhoea.
More serious poisoning can result in numbness or tingling, abnormal bleeding, blood-related problems and yellowing of the skin or eyes. So how much is too much?
It is generally safe to take up to 1.5g of saffron daily, which equals 3/4 teaspoon of the spice in ground form.
Research has claimed that consuming more than about 5g of saffron a day can cause serious adverse effects, while doses of around 12g to 20g have been reported as potentially fatal.
However, these figures should not be treated as a precise "lethal dose", as toxicity can vary depending on the individual, the preparation and other factors.
For comparison, culinary recipes typically call for only a small pinch of saffron, making ordinary food use very different from consuming gram-level quantities.
Pregnant women should also be particularly cautious. High doses have been associated with uterine contractions and an increased risk of bleeding or miscarriage, although the evidence on saffron use during pregnancy remains limited.
So, while a little saffron can add colour and flavour to a dish, more is definitely not better. The tiny threads may be precious, but consuming them by the handful is not a recipe for good health.
References:
1. Prime Health Denver - Saffron: Health Benefits, Risks, and How to Use
https://primehealthdenver.com/
2. Everyday Health - Saffron 101: A Complete Guide
https://www.everydayhealth.
