Is Star Anise Safe to Consume? A Crucial Guide

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2003, the U.S. FDA issued a warning against consuming star anise tea due to multiple reports of severe side effects, including seizures. This was largely due to contamination with a toxic look-alike, raising the critical question: is star anise safe to consume?.

Quick Summary

Pure Chinese star anise is generally safe for adults in small culinary amounts, but contamination with poisonous Japanese star anise is a serious risk. This article details the key differences, toxicity dangers, and safety precautions, especially for infants, to prevent accidental poisoning. It's crucial to identify the source and use trusted products.

Key Points

Distinguish Species: The primary risk comes from a toxic look-alike, Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is often mistaken for or mixed with safe Chinese star anise (Illicium verum).
Avoid Herbal Teas: Historically, cases of star anise poisoning, especially in infants, have been linked to contaminated herbal teas sold commercially. The FDA has warned against these products.
Check Your Source: Always buy star anise from reputable and trusted suppliers with stringent quality control to ensure you are getting the non-toxic Chinese variety.
Not for Infants or Pregnant Women: Due to high risks of neurotoxicity from potential contamination, star anise should never be given to infants or young children and is best avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Be Aware of Symptoms: Ingesting the toxic Japanese variety can cause severe neurological symptoms like seizures, hallucinations, and vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention if these occur.

Understanding the Safety of Star Anise Consumption

Star anise is a beloved spice, integral to many cuisines, particularly in Asian cooking, where its distinctive licorice-like flavor enriches dishes like pho and five-spice powder. However, its safety is not without important caveats, primarily revolving around a highly toxic look-alike species. To understand if star anise is safe to consume, it's essential to first differentiate between the two main types and understand the risks associated with contamination.

The Critical Distinction: Chinese vs. Japanese Star Anise

The primary safety concern with star anise (scientifically known as Illicium verum) is its resemblance to the poisonous Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum). These two species are nearly identical in appearance, making accidental mixture a frequent cause of poisoning incidents. Japanese star anise is highly toxic and contains a potent neurotoxin called anisatin, which can cause severe neurological and gastrointestinal issues. Without chemical testing, telling the difference is almost impossible, which is why sourcing from reputable suppliers is paramount.

Health Risks of Star Anise Contamination

Ingesting Japanese star anise, even in small amounts, can have devastating health consequences. The neurotoxin anisatin acts as a powerful non-competitive gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist, leading to nerve over-excitability. This can trigger a range of serious symptoms.

Here are some of the potential side effects from contamination:

Neurological Problems: The most severe symptoms include seizures, agitation, hallucinations, and tremors. In infants, this has manifested as irritability, unusual movements, and seizures.
Gastrointestinal Distress: Consumption often leads to abdominal cramps, continuous vomiting, and diarrhea.
Kidney and Organ Inflammation: The toxins can cause severe inflammation of the kidneys, urinary tract, and other digestive organs.

Who Should Avoid Star Anise?

While pure Illicium verum is generally safe in culinary quantities for most healthy adults, certain groups should exercise extreme caution or avoid it entirely due to the risks of contamination and high-dose toxicity. These groups include:

Infants and Children: Cases of severe neurotoxicity, including seizures and vomiting, have been repeatedly reported in infants given star anise tea, often for colic. Health authorities, including the FDA, strongly recommend against giving star anise to infants and children.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: There is insufficient reliable information about the safety of star anise for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, and it's best to avoid it. The active compound anethole can pass through breast milk and be harmful to infants in large amounts.
Individuals with Allergies: Those with known allergies to star anise, anise, or fennel should avoid consumption.

Star Anise: Edible vs. Toxic Species


Feature	Chinese Star Anise (Illicium verum)	Japanese Star Anise (Illicium anisatum)
Appearance	Reddish-brown, typically with 7-10 flat petals each containing a seed.	Lighter, khaki-colored, with thinner or misshapen petals, often more than 10. Seeds may be absent.
Aroma	Strong, sweet, licorice-like scent.	Milder, less pleasant, camphor-like aroma.
Taste	Pungent, slightly sweet, licorice flavor.	Unpleasant, with a numbing or sour taste. NEVER taste this.
Toxicity	Safe in small culinary doses for most adults. Contains trace toxic compounds only harmful in extremely high doses.	Highly toxic. Contains anisatin, a potent neurotoxin causing seizures and organ damage.
Use	Culinary spice, traditional medicine.	Incense, not for consumption.

How to Minimize Your Risk

To ensure your safety when consuming star anise, follow these guidelines carefully:

Buy from Reputable Sources: Purchase star anise only from established and trusted spice merchants. Reputable brands have quality control processes to prevent contamination.
Check the Product: If possible, inspect the pods. Chinese star anise pods are a deeper reddish-brown, with symmetrical, plump, canoe-shaped petals, while Japanese pods are lighter and more fragile.
Avoid Teas and Herbal Remedies: Steer clear of commercial star anise teas or herbal remedies, as these are historically where contamination issues have been most prevalent.
Start with Small Amounts: Even with pure Chinese star anise, its strong flavor requires small quantities. Using too much can be overwhelming and may increase the risk of side effects, though rare.
Use Whole Pods: Some sources suggest using whole, intact pods rather than ground powder, as it is easier to inspect for consistency.

Conclusion: Responsible Consumption is Key

So, is star anise safe to consume? The definitive answer is: yes, but with significant caution. When you consume pure Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) in small, culinary amounts from a trusted source, the risk to a healthy adult is low. However, the danger lies in its poisonous look-alike, Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is a serious threat if accidentally ingested. The risk of contamination is real, particularly in herbal products and teas. Therefore, it is crucial to purchase from reputable suppliers, inspect the product carefully, and avoid giving it to infants, children, or pregnant women. By taking these precautions, you can enjoy the unique flavor of star anise safely. For more information on general food safety practices, consult reliable sources like the FDA or a certified nutritionist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but not from the Chinese star anise typically used in cooking. The risk comes from its toxic look-alike, Japanese star anise, which contains a powerful neurotoxin. Accidental ingestion can lead to severe poisoning, neurological effects, and in rare cases, death.

Visually, it's very difficult. Chinese star anise is typically a deeper reddish-brown with symmetrical, 7-10 plump petals. Japanese star anise is lighter in color, with more fragile, irregular petals, often more than 10. The toxic variety also has a milder, camphor-like scent compared to the strong, sweet, licorice aroma of the edible version.

No, star anise tea is considered unsafe for infants and children. Numerous reports of neurotoxicity, including seizures and vomiting, have been documented, and the risk of contamination with toxic Japanese star anise is high.

Symptoms of poisoning from the toxic Japanese star anise include neurological issues (seizures, agitation, hallucinations) and gastrointestinal distress (abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea).

Using ground star anise powder increases the risk of contamination, as it is impossible to visually confirm the purity of the spice. It is safer to purchase whole pods from a trusted, reputable source and grind them yourself.

No, it is best to avoid star anise during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is insufficient safety information, and the risk of contamination with the toxic variety poses a serious health risk to both the mother and baby.

In some countries, like the U.S., star anise is regulated as an herbal supplement, which means it may not have the same rigorous safety standards as food products. Historically, the FDA has warned against its consumption, particularly in teas, due to contamination risks.