Food supplements and children: what the texts say
Plants for which the French Order of 24 June 2014 requires a warning for children on the label, and opinions of health agencies that advise against a supplement for children or adolescents.
A plant or ingredient missing from this page has not been judged safe for a child. For a child, ask your doctor or pharmacist; vitamin D for infants is a medicine matter.
Mandatory warning on the label 19
Restriction quoted as published in the Order (in French); pages are in French.
- Aloe ferox Mill.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé
- Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé
- Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
Seules sont admises la poudre issue du broyage des feuilles et les préparations obtenues à partir des solvants suivants : l'eau, l'alcool à 25 % (v/v), ainsi que les solvants autorisés pour la décaféination ou la suppression des matières irritantes et amères. Les recommandations d'emploi ne doivent pas conduire à une ingestion quotidienne d'EGCG supérieure à 300 mg. L'étiquetage doit comporter des avertissements déconseillant leur prise en dehors des repas, ainsi que leur consommation par les enfants, les adolescents, les femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.
- Cassia fistula L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Citrus aurantium L.
La quantité ingérée de p-synéphrine doit être inférieure à 20 mg par dose journalière recommandée. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants, aux femmes enceintes ou allaitantes et en cas de traitement anti-hypertenseur. La caféine et les sources de caféine ne sont pas autorisées dans les compléments alimentaires contenant Citrus aurantium L.
- Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
La portion journalière recommandée ne doit pas conduire à une ingestion d'estragole supérieure à 0,05 mg/kg de poids corporel pour les enfants de moins de 12 ans.
- Frangula dodonei Ard.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes ainsi qu'une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Frangula purshiana Cooper
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes ainsi qu'une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
La portion journalière recommandée ne doit pas conduire à une ingestion d'acide glycyrrhizinique supérieure à 100 mg. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement avec la teneur suivante: "Ne pas utiliser pendant plus de 6 semaines sans avis médical." L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi chez les enfants.
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
La portion journalière recommandée ne doit pas conduire à une ingestion d'acide glycyrrhizinique supérieure à 100 mg. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement avec la teneur suivante: "Ne pas utiliser pendant plus de 6 semaines sans avis médical." L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi chez les enfants.
- Nigella sativa L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'usage chez les enfants, adolescents, femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.
- Ocimum basilicum L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'usage chez les enfants et une mention déconseillant un usage prolongé.
- Rhamnus cathartica L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes ainsi qu'une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Rheum officinale Baill.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Rheum palmatum L.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Senna alexandrina Mill.
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby
L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans, aux femmes enceintes et allaitantes et une mention déconseillant l'usage prolongé.
- Valeriana jatamansi Jones
L'absence de valépotriates doit être prouvée par des rapports d'analyse. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans.
- Valeriana officinalis L.
L'absence de valépotriates doit être prouvée par des rapports d'analyse. L'étiquetage doit comporter un avertissement déconseillant l'emploi aux enfants de moins de 12 ans.
Arrêté du 24 juin 2014, annexe I. French orders of 9 May 2006 (nutrients), 24 June 2014 (plants) and 26 September 2016 (other substances), consolidated LEGI collection, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Opinions of health agencies 35
- Aesculus hippocastanum L.
For the horse chestnut seed extracts studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18 and reserving them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Arctium lappa L.
For the burdock root preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18 and reserving them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Bitartrate de choline
Because of a lack of French consumption data, the experts do not take a position on including choline in the draft list. They consider that a maximum dose of 1 g per day is not sufficiently protective, at least for children aged 1 to 8, whose cited safe upper limit is already 1 g of choline per day.
ANSES, 24 December 2024, 2023-SA-0216
- Bêta-alanine
The BfR advises single doses below 400 mg of beta-alanine and, when several doses are spread over the day, a total below 1.2 g per day, for less than 12 weeks. Children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people aged 65 or over should not take beta-alanine products.
BfR, 19 August 2026, 046/2026
- Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
ANSES advises avoiding supplements containing tea leaf preparations during pregnancy or breastfeeding (because of caffeine and catechins, including EGCG) and before age 18. It recommends not exceeding a daily dose equivalent to 200 mg of caffeine, or 5 cups of tea.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Cichorium intybus L.
For the chicory root preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in children under 12.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Cinnamomum verum J. Presl
For the Ceylon cinnamon bark preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18 and reserving them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC.
For the hawthorn flowering stem preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in children under 12.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Cynara scolymus L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from artichoke leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It advises against them in case of bile duct obstruction or other biliary disorders.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Equisetum arvense L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from the aerial parts of horsetail during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It advises against them in case of heart or kidney failure with oedema.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Eschscholzia californica Cham.
For the California poppy aerial part preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18 and reserving them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
For the sweet fennel fruit preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in children under 4 for the same reason.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Lavandula angustifolia Mill.
For the lavender flower preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in children under 12.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Melissa officinalis L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from lemon balm leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It advises not driving or operating machinery after taking a product containing this plant.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Mélatonine
ANSES advises against melatonin food supplements for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people with an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and before an activity that requires sustained alertness. It asks for medical advice for people with epilepsy, asthma, or mood, behaviour or personality disorders, and for people taking medication. Its experts recommend occasional use and no more than 2 mg a day. The opinion is based on 90 adverse-effect reports received from 2009 to May 2017.
ANSES, 23 February 2018, 2016-SA-0209
- Mélatonine
The BfR considers that children and adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, women wishing to conceive, people with reduced liver or kidney function, and people with an autoimmune disease or epilepsy should not take melatonin supplements without medical supervision.
BfR, 17 September 2024, 042/2024
- Olea europaea subsp. europaea
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from olive leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 18, for lack of data. It advises against them in case of heart or kidney failure.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from ginseng root during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 18, for lack of data. It recommends watching for hives, itching, digestive disorders and insomnia.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Passiflora incarnata L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from the aerial parts of passionflower during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It advises not driving or operating machinery after taking them.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Ribes nigrum L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from blackcurrant leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 18, for lack of data. It advises against them in case of heart or kidney failure with oedema.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Rosmarinus officinalis L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from rosemary leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It also advises avoiding them in case of bile duct obstruction or other biliary disorders.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Rubus idaeus L.
For the raspberry leaf preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18 and reserving them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Sambucus nigra L.
For the black elderflower preparations studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in children under 12.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Sedum roseum (L.) Scop.
For root and rhizome extracts of rhodiola made with alcohol of at least 30 degrees, ANSES advises avoiding supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for lack of data. It also advises avoiding them before age 18 and keeping them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from milk thistle fruits during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for lack of data. It also advises avoiding them before age 18 and keeping them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Sulfate de chondroïtine
ANSES advises against chondroitin sulfate supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding and in children, because of insufficient safety data. It recommends never combining sources of glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, whether medicines or supplements.
ANSES, 4 January 2019, 2015-SA-0069
- Thymus vulgaris L.
For the thyme essential oil supplements studied, ANSES advises avoiding consumption during pregnancy or breastfeeding, because of a lack of data. It also recommends avoiding them in people under 18.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
ANSES considers the data insufficient to demonstrate the safety of supplements containing fenugreek seeds during breastfeeding. The data also do not allow a conclusion on whether there is a risk to the mother or infant.
ANSES, 6 November 2025, 2025-SA-0064
- Urtica dioica L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from the aerial parts of nettle during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 12, for lack of data. It advises against them in case of heart or kidney failure with oedema.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Vaccinium myrtillus L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements containing fresh bilberry fruit extract during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for lack of data. It also advises avoiding these preparations before age 18 and keeping them for adults.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Vitamine D
ANSM, with ANSES, poison centres and paediatric societies, reported vitamin D overdoses in young children (hypercalcaemia, kidney damage) linked to food supplements, some providing up to 10,000 IU per drop. It recommends checking doses carefully, not combining several products that contain it, preferring a medicine containing vitamin D and not buying these supplements online.
ANSM, 17 March 2021, alerte du 27/01/2021, mise à jour le 17/03/2021
- Vitis vinifera L.
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from grapevine leaves during pregnancy or breastfeeding and before age 18, for lack of data. It recommends watching for nausea, headaches and digestive disorders.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155
- Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
ANSES recommends not taking food supplements containing Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) with a thyroid, liver or heart disease, hyperandrogenism, during pregnancy, or with a sedative treatment or one acting on the central nervous system; as a precaution also while breastfeeding and under 18. The available data do not allow a risk-free dose to be set.
ANSES, 19 April 2024, 2021-SA-0077
- Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
The BfR recommends that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with current or past liver disease do not take ashwagandha preparations. Because of missing data, it also advises the rest of the population to be cautious.
BfR, 10 September 2024, 039/2024
- Zingiber officinale Roscoe
ANSES advises avoiding supplements made from ginger rhizome before age 18, for lack of data. It recommends watching for minor digestive disorders, especially stomach ache, belching, indigestion and nausea.
ANSES, 19 April 2023, 2019-SA-0155