Botanical ingredients: intakes, regulations, risks and attitudes

Botanical ingredients have been used for centuries in food and in medicines, typically to support and maintain physiological functions and as remedies for many ailments. Today, botanical ingredients are still ingested as part of food supplements or herbal medicines (HM). Industry reports suggest growing global sales of and revenue from HM and food supplements containing botanicals, hereafter called botanical food supplements (BFS). In the context of this suggested growing popularity, this article will introduce both BFS and HM and then explore the available data on BFS intakes and consumer attitudes to their use. It will describe the EU regulatory framework within which BFS sit and mention research suggesting possible interactions between botanical ingredients, HM and traditional medicines. It is intended as a brief overview rather than a comprehensive review of the area.