Ban on ancient 'superfood' divides growers and regulators

Australian growers of Moringa oleifera, often called the drumstick tree, are facing an uncertain future regarding the sale of their produce following a ruling by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

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Our livelihood relies on the application being successful.

In November 2025, FSANZ declared that it could not establish the safety of Moringa oleifera for human consumption as a food or food ingredient. This decision means that the leaves, immature pods, and oils of the plant can no longer be sold for these purposes and may be destroyed at the Australian border or re-exported. While therapeutic products and supplements containing moringa, such as capsules and powders, remain available if registered with the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), the ban directly impacts fresh produce sales.

Gary Duffy, a grower from the Somerset region, is leading an appeal to overturn FSANZ's decision, emphasizing that "Our livelihood relies on the application being successful." He has written to federal, state, and territory health ministers seeking a stay on the determination while his appeal is assessed. Duffy noted that previously, fresh moringa products sold in major Australian markets were imported, and local growers aimed to fill that demand. However, a spokesperson for the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing stated that the rejection is not open for review or suspension by FSANZ or the minister, advising that a new application would be welcomed.

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I invested everything I had into this farm and it's 10 years of work and then just overnight it's gone.

Another Wide Bay grower, Joel Molloy, expressed his distress, having invested heavily in his farm just before FSANZ's decision. "I invested everything I had into this farm and it's 10 years of work and then just overnight it's gone," he said, describing the situation as "a kick in the guts." Molloy also stated that growers were not consulted or warned about the impending ban. The process for a new application could take up to two years, leaving growers like Molloy uncertain about selling their upcoming summer harvest.

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It's a kick in the guts.

FSANZ's ruling stemmed from an application in January 2024 by Noosa Organica Pty Ltd. After reviewing the application and external studies, the statutory body raised concerns about reproductive effects noted in mice and conflicting results regarding genotoxicity. FSANZ's rejection report indicated limited information on the safety of seed pods or oil in the application and peer-reviewed literature, reinforcing the need for robust scientific evidence for novel food approvals.

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We were never consulted, we were never warned.