Seasoning Ingredients: Spices

Spices are dried seeds, fruits, roots, barks, or vegetative substances used primarily for flavoring, coloring, or preserving food. They come from plants and are harvested, dried, and often ground into powder or used whole.

Spices are added to foods to enhance flavor and aroma. They are used in a vast array of food products, including meats, sauces, baked goods, and beverages.

Spices are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. While some spices contain beneficial compounds, their amounts in typical food use are usually too small to have significant health effects. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated many spices. There is ongoing research into the specific health benefits and potential interactions of various spice compounds.