EFSA’s experts updated their 2022 report on whether CBD (cannabidiol) is safe to use in food supplements or foods. They checked all new studies up to mid-2024 but found the same big problems as before: not enough good evidence to say CBD is safe for most people. Many studies are short, badly designed, or mixed with other drugs, so the results are hard to trust. Animal tests show clear harm to the liver, fertility, pregnancy, hormones, and brain development in babies — with some effects lasting into adulthood and differing between boys and girls. Human evidence is weak and mostly from medical use, not everyday supplements. EFSA set a very small “provisional safe amount” of about 2 mg per day for an average adult — but only for very pure CBD supplements, and not for young people under 25, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone on other medicines. This tiny limit shows how uncertain and weak the evidence is. The report strongly indicates CBD carries real risks and has not been proven safe as a food product.

Why This Report Is Important

CBD is classified as a “novel food” in the EU because it wasn’t widely eaten there before 1997. EFSA must prove it’s safe before companies can sell it widely. The 2022 report already said there were major gaps in safety knowledge. This 2026 update was supposed to see if new research fixed those gaps. After a thorough review and public input (September–October 2025), EFSA says no — the gaps are still there, and safety cannot be confirmed for many people. This is a serious warning for anyone thinking CBD is harmless in supplements or foods.

How EFSA Did the Review — and Why It Still Falls Short

EFSA searched major science databases for studies on CBD’s effects on the liver, gut, brain, hormones, and reproduction. They focused on high-quality studies with very pure CBD (over 95%). They used advanced calculations on long-term rat tests to estimate a safe starting point, then added a huge safety margin (dividing by 400) to account for unknowns.

But serious problems remain:

• Many new studies are short, not done the same way, or involve people taking other medicines.
• Most human data comes from medical treatments (like epilepsy drugs), not healthy people using CBD daily.
• No good studies exist on effects on the immune system, even though CBD affects immune pathways.
• Questions about possible DNA damage or tiny particles in some CBD products are unanswered.

These ongoing issues mean the evidence is still too weak to make solid safety decisions.

The Main Risks — Clear Signs of Harm

How CBD Affects the Body CBD interacts with many systems in the brain and body (receptors, hormones, inflammation). This might explain some effects, but it also means unintended harm is likely — especially with regular or high use.

Liver Damage This is the most repeated problem. Animal tests show the liver gets larger, enzymes rise, and cells change at relatively low doses. In people, liver enzyme levels spike (sometimes dangerously) — especially when CBD is taken with certain other drugs. EFSA says the liver is the main area of concern, and nothing new has changed that.

Stomach and Gut Problems Higher doses often cause diarrhoea, nausea, or stomach upset in human studies, but the information is limited.

Brain and Development Risks Human data is not strong enough, but animal studies show that exposure before birth can lead to lasting changes in behaviour, anxiety, memory, or thinking — sometimes different in males vs females. For people under 25 (whose brains are still developing), this raises serious worries about permanent damage.

Hormone System Changes Animal tests show drops in thyroid hormones and changes in adrenal glands, which could affect energy, metabolism, and overall health.

Reproduction and Pregnancy Risks This area has some of the strongest warnings. Animal studies confirm:

• Irregular fertility cycles in females (starting around 30 mg/kg body weight per day).
• Lower sperm quality and damage to sperm DNA in males (starting as low as 15 mg/kg body weight per day).
• Changes to reproductive organs.
• Babies born about 10% smaller when mothers are exposed during pregnancy.
• Placenta problems (less blood flow, fewer key cells, trouble delivering nutrients to the baby).
• Some effects last into the child’s life, affecting behaviour or learning — and they can differ between boys and girls.

EFSA says they cannot prove CBD is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women — the risks to developing babies are too serious.

How CBD Moves Through the Body How much CBD gets absorbed depends on how it’s taken (e.g., with food or in oil). It can cross from mother to baby during pregnancy and build up in fat tissues, raising worries about long-term exposure.

The “Safe” Amount — Very Small and Very Limited

EFSA used the best animal data (mostly liver effects) to set a starting safety point. They then divided it by 400 to be extra careful about differences between animals and people, short vs long use, and all the missing information. This gives a provisional safe daily amount of about 2 mg for a 70 kg adult (0.0275 mg per kg body weight).

This tiny amount is only for very pure CBD supplements (98%+ pure, no tiny particles, made safely, and no DNA damage risk found). It does not apply to CBD in foods, drinks, or gummies. EFSA says they cannot guarantee safety for young people under 25, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone taking other medicines.

Final Thoughts

EFSA’s 2026 update is thorough and honest, but it is also a strong warning. After years of new research, the big safety questions are still unanswered. The evidence shows real risks especially to the liver and to unborn babies and the very low “safe” limit shows how little confidence experts have in the data. CBD acts more like a medicine than a simple food, with harms that are hard to ignore. Until much stronger, long-term human studies prove otherwise, CBD should not be considered safe for widespread use in supplements or foods.

Reference EFSA NDA Panel (2026). Update of the statement on safety of cannabidiol as a novel food. EFSA Journal, 24(2), e9862. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9862 (Published 9 February 2026; adopted 16 December 2025).