Food Standards Australia New Zealand has banned the importation and sale of Moringa for food (tea, powder, leaves etc). It can still be sold as medicine in some cases. You can also still grow it in your backyard, which I do. Their stated reason for this is 'lack of information'.

https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/A1294%20Rejection%20report.pdf

Moringa has been eaten as a staple vegetable in South Asia and Africa for centuries. Pretty much all of it can be eaten, though some sites say to go easy on the flowers, especially if you are eating them raw or are pregnant, and I wouldn't eat the bark and roots. They are also very easy to grow. They are a tropical tree that can survive drought. They don't seem to have become a weed, but have the potential up in the tropics. You can propagate them by breaking off a branch and dropping it on the ground.

I use the leaves occasionally. I nibble on them when I am roaming the garden. They are a bit peppery. I use them like coriander to garnish pasta. And I throw them into curries etc whenever I am looking for leafy greens to add to my cooking. I haven't tried cooking the pods yet, but will get round to it one day.

More info.

Google AI:

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the drumstick tree, horseradish tree, or ben oil tree, is a fast-growing, drought-resistant deciduous tree native to northern India.  It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its nutritious leaves, edible pods, seeds, and flowers, which are used in food, traditional medicine, and cosmetics.

The plant is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, with studies suggesting potential benefits for lowering blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and improving cholesterol levels.  Every part of the tree is utilized: leaves are consumed as vegetables or dried into powder, seeds yield ben oil for cooking and lubrication, and ground seeds serve as a natural water purifier.

While generally regarded as safe for consumption in moderate amounts, pregnant individuals are advised to avoid roots, bark, and flowers due to potential uterine-stimulating properties, and those on diabetes medication should consult a healthcare provider before using moringa supplements.



Moringa oleifera:

https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1487588610/photo/moringa-leaves-and-flower.jpg

From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants?    :-/

It sounds like Govt over reach - too many public servants with nothing better to do.  :-[


QUOTE:

In particular, the best available scientific evidence did not enable key safety
considerations such as the following to be adequately characterised:
− The identity and quantity of undesirable substances potentially present in
relevant parts of the Moringa oleifera plant.
− The potential for adverse effects in the short term or long term, such as
established by guideline-compliant toxicity studies in animals.
− The abortifacient effects of Moringa oleifera observed in animal studies for the
leaf and aqueous or ethanolic extracts of the leaf.
− Anecdotal reports of use of Moringa oleifera as a contraceptive and abortifacient
in humans.
− The potential genotoxicity of Moringa oleifera addressing all genotoxicity
endpoints, as demonstrated by appropriate studies conducted according to
relevant guidelines.
Given the above, FSANZ was unable to conclude that Moringa oleifera (leaves, immature
seed pods and oil) would not pose a safety concern if permitted as a food for retail sale or as
an ingredient or component in food for retail sale. FSANZ’s assessment was also that the
associated potential cost to consumer health of such a permission would outweigh its direct
and indirect benefits.

Quote:

From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants?

Yes. I think the key decision was to designate it as a 'novel' food. That means a new type of food that has to go through all sorts of testing before you are allowed to sell it for human consumption. So it is being treated the same as something that comes out of the lab.

Why is Moringa considered a new food source, but not apples? Presumably because white people have been eating apples for centuries. Indians and Africans don't count as people. You can poison yourself with cyanide by eating (a lot of) apple seeds.

freediver wrote on Apr 27^th, 2026 at 11:55am:

Quote: From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants? Yes. I think the key decision was to designate it as a 'novel' food. That means a new type of food that has to go through all sorts of testing before you are allowed to sell it for human consumption. So it is being treated the same as something that comes out of the lab. Why is Moringa considered a new food source, but not apples? Presumably because white people have been eating apples for centuries. Indians and Africans don't count as people.

Gee whiz- if you go to a herbal medicine shop there
are 100s of products that could be harmful -
concentrated extracts of so many different plants.  :-/

"All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison"
Paracelsus (1493–1541)

AKA "the dose makes the poison"

Sugar is probably the biggest killer in the west today.

The same poison risk could be levelled at cinnamon, which can be bought by the kilo in Australia.

The same for Ashwagandha...

And nutmeg...

And Oregano, Thyme, Turmeric and Cumin.

Regulators in every industry usually have a strong bias towards imposing regulations than not...

The most obvious reason is to protect themselves and the governments they serve from culpability if someone is poisoned or dies.

Stuff that's been around forever, like spices... well, good luck suing the state for negligence because you're a bit on the heavy-handed side with your cooking or chai lattes...

Reminds me of the TGA controversy over comfrey:

https://www.myherbalapothecary.com.au/blog/why-was-comfrey-banned-australia/

freediver wrote on Apr 27^th, 2026 at 11:55am:

Quote: From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants? Yes. I think the key decision was to designate it as a 'novel' food. That means a new type of food that has to go through all sorts of testing before you are allowed to sell it for human consumption. So it is being treated the same as something that comes out of the lab. Why is Moringa considered a new food source, but not apples? Presumably because white people have been eating apples for centuries. Indians and Africans don't count as people. You can poison yourself with cyanide by eating (a lot of) apple seeds.

I feed my visiting birds the odd apple - always remove all seeds.

freediver wrote on Apr 27^th, 2026 at 11:55am:

Quote: From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants? Yes. I think the key decision was to designate it as a 'novel' food. That means a new type of food that has to go through all sorts of testing before you are allowed to sell it for human consumption. So it is being treated the same as something that comes out of the lab. Why is Moringa considered a new food source, but not apples? Presumably because white people have been eating apples for centuries. Indians and Africans don't count as people. You can poison yourself with cyanide by eating (a lot of) apple seeds.

Sounding like a real lefty DH there Freediver.

You do realise the amount of introduced noxious pest plants are growing out of control in Australia?

Asians/Africans & assorted other foreigners are being regularly caught at our airports trying to bring in large amounts of food materials, animal products, plants & seeds that are biosecurity risks?

And who eats a lot of apple seeds?  ::)

waggawoody wrote on May 8^th, 2026 at 7:15pm:

Reminds me of the TGA controversy over comfrey: https://www.myherbalapothecary.com.au/blog/why-was-comfrey-banned-australia/

It's not really banned - you can still grow the plant, buy leaves & roots & topical products.

You just can't buy it for or make it for internal consumption.

It's toxic to the liver.

Gnads wrote on May 10^th, 2026 at 1:26pm:

waggawoody wrote on May 8th, 2026 at 7:15pm: Reminds me of the TGA controversy over comfrey: https://www.myherbalapothecary.com.au/blog/why-was-comfrey-banned-australia/ It's not really banned - you can still grow the plant, buy leaves & roots & topical products. You just can't buy it for or make it for internal consumption. It's toxic to the liver.

Didn't say it was. Instead I used the term, controversy.

Gnads wrote on May 10^th, 2026 at 1:14pm:

freediver wrote on Apr 27th, 2026 at 11:55am: Quote: From the link - I think you could say similar things about 1,000s of plants? Yes. I think the key decision was to designate it as a 'novel' food. That means a new type of food that has to go through all sorts of testing before you are allowed to sell it for human consumption. So it is being treated the same as something that comes out of the lab. Why is Moringa considered a new food source, but not apples? Presumably because white people have been eating apples for centuries. Indians and Africans don't count as people. You can poison yourself with cyanide by eating (a lot of) apple seeds. Sounding like a real lefty DH there Freediver. You do realise the amount of introduced noxious pest plants are growing out of control in Australia? Asians/Africans & assorted other foreigners are being regularly caught at our airports trying to bring in large amounts of food materials, animal products, plants & seeds that are biosecurity risks? And who eats a lot of apple seeds?  ::)

Is any of this relevant to Moringa? Do you think we should ban it to punish black people for smuggling in invasive pests?

Moringa's claims are way overstated, like more Vit C than oranges ... while the quantity of moringa leaf required is massive.

The food standards made the correct decision so protecting the population. It's up to the businesses wanting Moringa on ColeWorth shelves to do the hard work of proving it's safety.

Inland rural southern Australia. I have Moringa growing (deciduous). I eat Moringa leaf, have tries it's flowers, haven't produced seed pods yet,  I have sold heaps of Moringa seedlings over the last few years, and even are planning to make home made Moringa ice cream this week (from powder) . 

I will continue to consume Moringa, because the leaves are delicious fresh and with curries etc,

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 13^th, 2026 at 8:32am:

Moringa's claims are way overstated, like more Vit C than oranges ... while the quantity of moringa leaf required is massive. The food standards made the correct decision so protecting the population. It's up to the businesses wanting Moringa on ColeWorth shelves to do the hard work of proving it's safety. Inland rural southern Australia. I have Moringa growing (deciduous). I eat Moringa leaf, have tries it's flowers, haven't produced seed pods yet,  I have sold heaps of Moringa seedlings over the last few years, and even are planning to make home made Moringa ice cream this week (from powder) .  I will continue to consume Moringa, because the leaves are delicious fresh and with curries etc,

So you eat a lot of it, but the government made the right decision in banning it to protect people's health?

Ogga Booga facts are not facts. Noosa Organics forwarded an extremely weak application. The fault is with them.

I eat it because I like it. I understand claims such as it being a superfood is shaky. Don't worry about the risk of having a forced abortion.

If the government had passed Moringa and shoppers began losing their foetuses because of it ... who will be to blame ?

Back to the drawing board ... scientifically research of Moringa, then reapply. 

Would it be the right thing to do to ban apples because someone sends in a weak application?

If the science is lacking, then yes. Alway's yes.

So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Ounce of precaution over a pound of cure.

I'm more invested in circumventing microplastics in all the potting soil brands, that people grow their herbs and veggies in.

Microplastic exposure is probably a multitude more risky to the population than Moringa. That said, the Food and Drug mob's job is to keep up our food standards. They rejected an application that had next to no facts backing it.

Moringa, in time, will very likely be a mainstay in the Australian diet. Jumping through the government's hoops is the only way forward.

So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Nutmeg, a known hallucinogen, and can also cause nausea and vomiting, dizziness and rapid heartbeat, can be legally bought by the sackful in Australia.

freediver wrote on May 13^th, 2026 at 2:36pm:

So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Asking the same question a hour apart gets a similar answer.

People's confidence when buy food off shop shelves is what you are willing to risk.

As far as I understand, you can eat the Moringa in your garden. Same as prior to Dec 2025. Nothing has been lost.

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 13^th, 2026 at 3:03pm:

freediver wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 2:36pm: So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat? Asking the same question a hour apart gets a similar answer.

Sorry, I must have missed the answer bit. What is it? You appear to be hinting at yes, but cannot bring yourself to actually say it.

Why is that? Common sense kicking in?

freediver wrote on May 13^th, 2026 at 4:29pm:

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 3:03pm: freediver wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 2:36pm: So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat? Asking the same question a hour apart gets a similar answer. Sorry, I must have missed the answer bit. What is it? You appear to be hinting at yes, but cannot bring yourself to actually say it. Why is that? Common sense kicking in?

You have back peddled from your own topic, Moringa, to all ancient human foods.

Moringa failed because it lacked scientific backing in that particular application.

Any/all food applications, that lack in their scientific evidence, should and will fail. This that keeps our food safer.

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 13^th, 2026 at 6:08pm:

freediver wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 4:29pm: Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 3:03pm: freediver wrote on May 13th, 2026 at 2:36pm: So all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat? Asking the same question a hour apart gets a similar answer. Sorry, I must have missed the answer bit. What is it? You appear to be hinting at yes, but cannot bring yourself to actually say it. Why is that? Common sense kicking in? You have back peddled from your own topic, Moringa, to all ancient human foods. Moringa failed because it lacked scientific backing in that particular application. Any/all food applications, that lack in their scientific evidence, should and will fail. This that keeps our food safer.

You are the one that changed the topic to any/all foods. It is not back pedalling. It is asking whether you are a hypocrite.

Do you think that all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Ancient Romans boiled grape juice in lead-lined pots to make a sweet syrup used in cooking and wine preservation.

To achieve a white appearance, Victorian bakers added alum, chalk, and plaster of Paris to bread.

During World War I shortages, rhubarb leaves were recommended as a vegetable substitute.

How about Raw Milk.

How far are you wanting to go ... everything should be available at colesworth ?

Do you think that all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

You keep insisting you have answered this question, but all I see you do is dodge it.

Ancient Romans boiled grape juice in lead-lined pots to make a sweet syrup used in cooking and wine preservation.

To achieve a white appearance, Victorian bakers added alum, chalk, and plaster of Paris to bread.

During World War I shortages, rhubarb leaves were recommended as a vegetable substitute.

How about Raw Milk.

How far are you wanting to go ... everything should be available at colesworth ?

I am not suggesting we go anywhere. You are. Have you been evading so long that you have forgotten what prompted this question?

Do you think that all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

If business want to profit from having them sold off Australia's supermarket shelves.

Again, it's a HARD YES.

Science the shite out of them, so to keep consumers safer.

Safety, over Profit.

A hard yes to what exactly?

Do you think that all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then, should be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Is it yes because you think it will only affect businesses, not anyone else? Another way of sticking it to the man?

It's a HARD YES to scientific rigger for foods sold through our shops.

If people want to swill raw milk while gulping their scorpion and death cap mushroom stew, down in their back sheds, all power to them.

Just don't dish me up any.


Are we clear now !

Quote:

It's a HARD YES to scientific rigger for foods sold through our shops.

What about all those foods that people have been eating since the birth of human agriculture, or even since before then? Should they be banned until someone "scientifically proves" that they are safe to eat?

Are you trying to avoid the question, or just coming up with slogans to chant while you are kicking over tables at the local farmers market?

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 14^th, 2026 at 5:36pm:

It's a HARD YES to scientific rigger for foods sold through our shops. If people want to swill raw milk while gulping their scorpion and death cap mushroom stew, down in their back sheds, all power to them. Just don't dish me up any. Are we clear now !

Most food at supermarkets is full of much worse - huge amounts of:

sugar, salt and bad fats.

We have an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

Bobby. wrote on May 14^th, 2026 at 8:16pm:

Ai_Took_Our_Jobs wrote on May 14th, 2026 at 5:36pm: It's a HARD YES to scientific rigger for foods sold through our shops. If people want to swill raw milk while gulping their scorpion and death cap mushroom stew, down in their back sheds, all power to them. Just don't dish me up any. Are we clear now ! Most food at supermarkets is full of much worse - huge amounts of: sugar, salt and bad fats. We have an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

Yes Bobby, but there is scientific proof that it is killing us. That's different. There's rigger in it.

Now you kangaroo rooters are FREE to legalize weed.

Marla wrote on May 14^th, 2026 at 10:03pm:

Now you kangaroo rooters are FREE to legalize weed.

I don't want to be dependent on any drug:
alcohol,
cigarettes,
pot,
heroin,
cocaine,
meth  etc.


You don't get something for nothing.
However high you get you come down to much lower than normal -
just like an alcoholic with a hangover to deal with -
then the only way out is to have more of your drug.   ::)

Better to get high from life - do interesting things -
have interesting hobbies -
talk to interesting people who inspire you.

Trust in Satan, Blooby.

Marla wrote on May 14^th, 2026 at 11:22pm:

Trust in Satan, Blooby.

Marla has sold her soul to Satan.    :o