Herbal Teas (Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids)

Botanical infusions drunk daily from one source.

63Low burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapRotate varieties and brands rather than drinking one blend daily

How this score is built

100Start
81.6Chemical hazard 4 × 4.6−18.4
68Everyday exposure 4 × 3.4−13.6
63Persistence 2 × 2.6−5.2, then rounded to 63
LowThe band63 sits in 60–79.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	4/10	EFSA's contaminants panel set a reference point of 237 µg/kg body weight per day for the carcinogenic risk of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and concluded there is a possible concern for human health, in particular for frequent and high consumers of tea and herbal infusions. Risks for human health related to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey, tea, herbal infusions and food supplements · EFSA J 2017 DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4908 · PMID 32625569 · Abstract · read 2026-10-09
Everyday exposure	4/10	In 1,105 food samples from the European market in 2014-2015, 91% of (herbal) teas contained at least one pyrrolizidine alkaloid, at a mean of 460 µg/kg dry tea (6.13 µg/L as an infusion). Occurrence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal- and plant-derived food: results of a survey across Europe · Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2018 DOI 10.1080/19440049.2017.1382726 · PMID 28942718 · Abstract · read 2026-10-09
Persistence	2/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

European food-safety surveys have found pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal and tea products, arriving as weed contamination during harvest rather than from the named plant. Rotating what you drink keeps any single contaminated source from becoming a daily habit.

Evidence strength: moderate

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