Cassava
What the research shows
Concerning
in studies of people
A starchy root from a tropical shrub.
It is eaten boiled and processed into starch and flour.1
What research says
Studies in people
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Concern
Nerve damage from food2
Eating poorly processed bitter cassava has been linked to konzo, a paralytic disease seen in Mozambique.
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Concern
Insulin release after meals3
In healthy cassava eaters, insulin sometimes peaked early or late, and scientists think cassava's cyanide-related compounds may be involved.
Found in some samples or products
These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.
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Natural toxins and contaminants4
Cassava can carry natural toxins, and yam and cassava can pick up mould toxins, pesticides and heavy metals.
How it’s made and used
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Energy and protein in staple foods5
Cassava is a major energy source for millions, but it is low in protein and its roots spoil quickly.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
Products
The 6 most-scanned of 982 products on Open Food Facts that list cassava.
- Almond Flour Crackers - Fine Ground Sea Salt Simple Mills · 2 x 10 oz 1 additive
- Tortilla Chips Siete · 15 oz 0 additives
- Grain Free Tortilla Chips Siete · 5 oz (142 g) 0 additives
- dark chocolate coconut minis UNREAL · 15.3 oz 0 additives
- frubes yoplair · 9×39 g 3 additives
- Grain Free Tortilla Chips Siete · 142 g 1 additive
References
- 1Cassava. Wikipedia. Accessed September 29, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Cliff J, Muquingue H, Nhassico D, Nzwalo H, Bradbury JH. Konzo and continuing cyanide intoxication from cassava in Mozambique. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(3):631-5. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2010.06.056
- 3Andrianasolo H, Fleury-Goyon MC, Charrie A, Andriantsoa J, Latour P, Rajaona H. [Insulin secretion in nondiabetic manioc consumers]. Diabete Metab. 1991;17(4):399-403.
- 4Ferraro V, Piccirillo C, Tomlins K, Pintado ME. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Yam (Dioscorea spp.) Crops and Their Derived Foodstuffs: Safety, Security and Nutritional Value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016;56(16):2714-27. doi:10.1080/10408398.2014.922045
- 5Okezie BO, Kosikowski FV. Cassava as a food. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 1982;17(3):259-75. doi:10.1080/10408398209527349