Is liquorice safe during pregnancy?
Heavy liquorice eating in pregnancy has been linked to lower IQ scores and more attention problems in children.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Christopher Sterling, obstetrician ·
The short answer
Large amounts of real liquorice are best avoided in pregnancy. It contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure and has been linked to preterm birth and to lower cognitive scores and more ADHD-type behaviour in children whose mothers ate a lot of it.
Why it matters
Real liquorice gets its sweetness from glycyrrhizin, a compound from liquorice root. Glycyrrhizin blocks an enzyme in the placenta that normally protects the baby from the mother’s stress hormone, cortisol.
A Finnish study that followed children to age 12 found that those whose mothers ate large amounts of liquorice in pregnancy (roughly 500 mg of glycyrrhizin or more a week — around 250 g of liquorice, depending on the product) had lower scores on cognitive tests, more ADHD-type problems, and girls reached puberty earlier. Earlier research from the same group linked heavy liquorice intake to a higher chance of preterm birth.
Glycyrrhizin also raises blood pressure and lowers potassium in adults, which matters more in pregnancy. The NHS now says liquorice root “may be harmful to your baby’s development” and that it’s safest to avoid it.
The catch most people miss: liquorice root also hides in herbal teas, salty liquorice (salmiakki), some cough sweets and “natural” remedies. Meanwhile many red or fruit “licorice” sweets contain no liquorice root at all.
What to do
- Skip black and salty liquorice, or keep it to an occasional small piece.
- Check herbal tea labels for “liquorice root” or “glycyrrhiza”.
- Watch for liquorice in cough sweets, lozenges and herbal remedies.
- If you’ve eaten a lot already, don’t panic — just stop now and mention it to your midwife.
Common questions
Is red licorice safe during pregnancy?
Many red or fruit-flavoured “licorice” sweets contain no liquorice root, so no glycyrrhizin. Check the ingredients list for liquorice extract or glycyrrhiza.
Is liquorice tea safe in pregnancy?
Teas made with liquorice root contain glycyrrhizin. It is best to avoid them or choose a tea without liquorice root.
Sources
- Räikkönen et al., American Journal of Epidemiology (2017)
- Strandberg et al., American Journal of Epidemiology (2002) — liquorice and preterm birth
- NHS — Foods to avoid in pregnancy (liquorice root)
Medically reviewed by Dr. Christopher Sterling, obstetrician, on against the sources above. Guidance can differ between countries — always follow the advice of your own midwife, doctor or pharmacist. Medical disclaimer.
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