Is Turmeric Safe During Pregnancy?

Updated September 14, 2026

The Answer

Yes, turmeric used in normal amounts as a cooking spice is generally compatible with pregnancy, as is permitted curcumin food coloring at normal food exposures. This does not extend to concentrated extracts, high dose products, or supplements, which warrant caution.

The key distinction is ordinary food exposure versus concentrated medicinal or supplement exposure, not simply whether the label says turmeric.

Food use assessments distinguish ordinary spice and permitted food color exposure from the much higher exposures possible with concentrated medicinal or enhanced absorption supplements.

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What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a yellow orange spice from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, used for its earthy flavor and color. You may encounter it as cooking powder, in prepared foods, teas and juices, or in supplements and cosmetics. Curcumin is a compound in turmeric that is also used as the yellow food color E100; it is not another name for the whole spice.

What Other Ingredients Should You Look Out for in Products With Turmeric?

A product's full ingredient list determines whether it's pregnancy-safe or not. These ingredients also appear in some of the turmeric products we analyzed and may deserve a closer look.

Tulsi

Avoid

Look for holy basil, tulsi leaf, or holy basil leaf extract in turmeric teas and supplements. Health Canada contraindicates holy basil natural health products in pregnancy; check whether the blend is a medicinal tea or supplement, where limited human data and animal reproductive findings matter.

Flagged in 13 products (2.6%) in this analysis.

Licorice Root

Avoid

Look for licorice root or liquorice root in teas and flavored drinks, and distinguish incidental flavoring from regular root tea or medicinal use. Glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, and heavy intake has observational links to shorter gestation.

Flagged in 7 products (1.4%) in this analysis.

Fennel

Caution

Look for fennel or fennel seed extract, then check whether it is food seasoning, a medicinal tea, or a supplement. Culinary amounts are low concern, while concentrated medicinal preparations have limited pregnancy data and hormonal or possible uterine concerns.

Flagged in 8 products (1.6%) in this analysis.

Quercetin

Caution

Quercetin on a turmeric supplement label means an additional concentrated ingredient to review, not simply the quercetin naturally present in foods. Human pregnancy safety data for isolated supplements are lacking; check the dose and possible medicine interactions with your clinician.

Flagged in 5 products (1%) in this analysis.

Concentrated Curcumin Supplements

Caution

Look for curcumin extract or curcumin extract complex in the supplement ingredients. These concentrated forms are not equivalent to culinary turmeric, and pregnancy safety at medicinal or enhanced absorption exposures is not established; check the strength and absorption claims.

Flagged in 3 products (0.6%) in this analysis.

Black Tea

Caution

Look for black tea, including selected black tea, in turmeric tea blends. It contributes caffeine, so check serving size and caffeine information and count it toward the pregnancy guidance of less than 200 mg daily from all sources.

Flagged in 2 products (0.4%) in this analysis.

Does the Form or Amount of Turmeric Matter During Pregnancy?

Normal spice and food color exposures are far lower than concentrated medicinal doses or supplements designed to increase absorption. A tea or juice label alone does not establish which exposure applies; check whether it contains ordinary turmeric or a concentrated extract. Ordinary topical cosmetics containing turmeric powder or curcumin appear low concern, but human skin tolerability studies outside pregnancy do not establish fetal safety. Absorption can vary with the formulation, and this assessment does not cover enhanced transdermal delivery. Itching, hives, or contact dermatitis can occur.

What Products Contain Turmeric?

Pregnancy Safe has looked at 12,424 products that have turmeric as an ingredient. The category and grade breakdowns below use 499 products whose names mention Turmeric or another name for it.

What Types of Products Contain Turmeric?

Dietary Supplement 252 products
Spice 30 products
Juice 21 products
Tea 20 products
Herbal Tea 13 products
Herbal Supplement 7 products
Nuts 7 products
Unknown 6 products
Curry 5 products
Rice 4 products

Products You May Have That Contain Turmeric

Grade Product Brand Type
A Carrot Ginger Turmeric Juice Natalie'S Juice
A Turmeric Curcumin Naturewise Dietary Supplement
A Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea Benner Herbal Tea
F Bigelow Golden Turmeric Honey + Adapto 18Ct Bigelow Tea
C Bigelow Matcha Green Tea With Turmeric 18 Tea Bags Bigelow Tea
C Ginger Peach Turmeric Herbal Tea Bigelow Herbal Tea
B+ Rescue Balm With Turmeric 3/0.15 Oz Burt'S Bees Lip Balm
A Clipper Organic Restoring Roots Ginger & Turmeric Tea Bags Clipper Tea

How Do Products Containing Turmeric Score?

It can be helpful to see how products containing turmeric generally score during pregnancy. This does not tell you whether your exact product is safe, but it gives you a general idea of what we found. In this breakdown of 499 products, 54% receive an A grade. An A grade means the complete formula is considered safe during pregnancy.

A
268 (54%)
B
151 (30%)
C
49 (10%)
D
1 (0%)
F
30 (6%)

Frequently Asked Questions About Turmeric During Pregnancy

How much turmeric can I have while pregnant?

The supported boundary is normal use as a cooking spice, not a specified number of teaspoons or milligrams per day. Do not translate that food use assessment into a supplement dose.

Can I drink turmeric tea or ginger and turmeric tea?

The drink's name alone is not enough to answer. Check whether the turmeric is an ordinary spice ingredient or a concentrated extract, and review the other ingredients separately. The evidence here does not establish a tea strength or daily cup limit.

Does the advice change between the first and third trimester?

The available evidence does not establish different trimester specific advice. The main distinction remains normal food exposure versus concentrated medicinal or supplement use.

Is curcumin the same thing as turmeric?

No. Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric, while turmeric is the whole spice. Curcumin used as permitted food coloring has a different exposure profile from a concentrated curcumin supplement.

Can I use a turmeric face mask or soap?

Turmeric powder or curcumin in ordinary topical cosmetics appears low concern, but direct pregnancy studies have not established fetal safety. Irritation or allergy can occur, and this assessment does not cover products designed to enhance delivery through the skin or establish the safety of the complete formula.

Does eating turmeric in food mean I have increased my miscarriage risk?

The available evidence does not support treating normal culinary turmeric exposure as a miscarriage warning. It is generally considered compatible with pregnancy; that conclusion should not be extended to concentrated extracts or high dose supplements.

How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?

We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.

Sources

  1. https://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/Home/Chemical/1355
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17537622/
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26705440/
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37047613/
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38008088/