botanical
A substance, used either as a food or a medicine, derived from plants, fungi, algae or lichens
In food safety, a botanical refers to a plant or plant-derived material used in foods, food supplements, or herbal products, such as leaves, roots, seeds, extracts, or powders. Botanicals are often used for their nutritional or physiological effects, for example in herbal teas or dietary supplements.
EFSA assesses botanicals to ensure they are safe for consumption, especially when they contain naturally occurring substances that could be harmful at certain levels. EFSA evaluates their composition, potential toxicity, and how much people may consume, and provides scientific advice to support risk assessment, regulation, and safe use of botanicals in foods and food supplements.