Myristica fragrans Houtt. · Family: Myristicaceae · Dried Seed Kernel
Nutmeg's defining quality control is not aroma — it is aflatoxin. The spice has a long record of EU border rejections on mycotoxins, and the defect grades most at risk are exactly the cheap ones. We test per lot, offer BGY fluorescence sorting, and state raw-material origin rather than implying it.
The spice where mycotoxin control is the specification
Nutmeg is the dried seed kernel of Myristica fragrans. The same fruit yields a second spice — mace, the lacy red aril that wraps the seed — which is a genuinely different product with a different price and profile, and we quote it separately.
Trade grades run on size and soundness. ABCD denotes large, uniform whole nuts with defectives limited to 5%; sound nutmeg is the general commercial grade at up to 10% defectives; broken and shrivelled material is priced lower and goes mainly to grinding and oleoresin extraction. Volatile oil follows the same ladder, from a minimum of 10% on ABCD to 5% on broken and ground.
But the control that actually governs this commodity is aflatoxin. Nutmeg has a long history of EU border rejections on mycotoxins, and the risk concentrates in precisely the material that is cheapest — broken, shrivelled and insect-damaged nuts, where the kernel has been breached and moulds have had a route in. Buying nutmeg on price alone is, more than on most spices, buying the risk directly.
The practical controls are per-lot testing rather than a certificate covering an earlier consignment, and BGY fluorescence sorting — bright greenish-yellow fluorescence under UV, which flags nuts likely to carry contamination so they can be removed before the lot is made up. We offer both.
On origin: India grows nutmeg in Kerala, but Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Grenada dominate world supply, and material moving through Indian trade is frequently of those origins. We state raw-material origin per lot rather than letting an assumption stand.
What is in the kernel
The dominant terpenes in nutmeg's volatile oil, giving the fresh, woody-piney top note.
The characteristic aromatic ether behind nutmeg's warm, slightly narcotic-sweet depth — and the compound behind its dose caution at grossly excessive intake.
Minor aromatic ethers contributing to the profile; relevant where a buyer's market sets limits on these constituents in flavourings.
Typically minimum 10% in ABCD grade, declining through the defect grades to 5% in ground material.
A substantial fraction of the kernel; the reason nutmeg grinds into a slightly oily powder and cakes over time.
Not a constituent but the governing control. Concentrated in broken, shrivelled and insect-damaged nuts. Tested per lot; BGY sorting available.
Why buyers specify nutmeg on mycotoxin control
Per lot rather than per contract, because that is how border sampling works on a commodity with this history.
UV sorting to remove nuts likely to carry contamination before the lot is made up, not after it is rejected.
From minimum 10% on ABCD down the defect ladder — declared per lot, not inferred from the grade name.
Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Grenada dominate world nutmeg. We state raw-material origin rather than implying Indian cultivation.
Mace is the aril of the same fruit and a different product. Quoted and certified separately.
Whole nuts for buyers grinding on receipt, or powder to a buyer-specified mesh.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Size, soundness and form
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABCD Grade (Large) Premium | Volatile oil min 10%; defectives NMT 5% | Large uniform whole nuts | Premium retail, gourmet, whole-spice | Whole |
| Sound Nutmeg Commercial | Volatile oil min 7%; defectives NMT 10% | Sound dried whole nuts | Food manufacturing, extraction | Whole |
| Broken / Shrivelled Economy | Volatile oil min 5%; higher aflatoxin risk — sorting advised | Broken or irregular pieces | Oleoresin production, grinding | Broken |
| Ground Nutmeg Ground | 40–60 mesh; volatile oil min 5%; total ash NMT 3% | Buff-brown powder | Bakery, seasonings, food manufacturing | Ground |
| BGY-Sorted On request | UV fluorescence sorted; aflatoxin tested per lot | Whole nuts | Where a tight mycotoxin specification applies | Whole |
The grade ladder on nutmeg is also a risk ladder, and buyers should read it that way. Broken, shrivelled and insect-damaged nuts are cheaper for an obvious reason and carry a materially higher aflatoxin exposure, because a breached kernel gives moulds a route in. That does not make defect grades unusable — they are legitimate feedstock for oleoresin extraction where the process and the buyer's own controls account for it — but it does mean price comparison across grades is not like-for-like. Where a tight mycotoxin specification applies, ask for BGY fluorescence sorting and per-lot testing. Mace, the aril of the same fruit, is a separate product; see mace. For extracted forms see nutmeg oleoresin.
Export specification for nutmeg, whole and ground. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Myristica fragrans Houtt. | — |
| Plant Family | Myristicaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried seed kernel | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole or ground | — |
| Colour | Light to dark brown | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic, warm, sweet-aromatic | Organoleptic |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Min 5–10 by grade — declared per lot | Distillation |
| Aflatoxin | Total NMT 10 ppb; B1 NMT 5 ppb — tested per lot | HPLC-FLD |
| BGY Fluorescence Sorting | Available on request — UV sorted | UV inspection |
| Defective Nuts (%) | NMT 5 (ABCD); NMT 10 (sound) | Manual |
| Raw Material Origin | Stated per lot | Declaration |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 10 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 3 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 (NMT 0.5 on ABCD) | Manual |
| Part Declaration | Seed kernel only — mace (aril) excluded | Declaration |
| Mesh (ground) | 40–60 or buyer-specified | Sieve |
| Pesticide Residues | EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 MRL compliant — tested per lot | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Aflatoxin | Total NMT 10 ppb; B1 NMT 5 ppb — EU compliant | HPLC-FLD |
| Ochratoxin A | NMT 10 ppb | HPLC-FLD |
| Heavy Metals | Lead NMT 3 ppm, Cadmium NMT 0.2 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Microbial | Salmonella absent/25g; TPC NMT 100,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> / <2022> |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Irradiation | Non-irradiated grade available on request | Declaration |
| Organic | USDA NOP / EU Organic available | Certification |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| HS Code | 0908.11 (Whole); 0908.12 (Ground) | — |
| Documentation | Phytosanitary Certificate, CoA, MSDS, Allergen Declaration, Non-GMO | — |
| Packaging | Buyer-specified — jute, PP, multi-wall paper or vacuum | — |
| Storage | Cool, dry, well-ventilated; away from direct sunlight and strong odours | — |
Aflatoxin is the line that governs this commodity, and it deserves more than a tick-box. Nutmeg has a long record of EU border rejections on mycotoxins, and the risk is not evenly distributed across the grade ladder — it concentrates in broken, shrivelled and insect-damaged nuts, where the kernel has been breached and moulds have had a route in. That is also, of course, the cheapest material on offer, which is why buying nutmeg on price alone means buying the risk directly. Two controls answer it. The first is per-lot testing rather than a certificate covering an earlier consignment: border sampling tests the lot in front of it, not the one before. The second is BGY fluorescence sorting — bright greenish-yellow fluorescence under ultraviolet light flags nuts likely to carry contamination, so they can be removed before the lot is made up rather than after it is refused. We test per lot as standard and offer BGY sorting on request. Note also the part declaration: mace is the aril of the same fruit, a separate spice with its own price and profile, and it is never blended in. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot.
From kernel to certified consignment — sorted, tested, documented
Sourcing & Sorting: Raw-material origin is recorded at intake and stated on the certificate — India grows nutmeg in Kerala, while Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Grenada dominate world supply. Material is graded on size, soundness and defective percentage, with BGY fluorescence sorting available to remove nuts flagged under UV before the lot is made up.
Testing: Every lot is tested for aflatoxin against EU limits, with volatile oil declared and myristicin reported on request. Pesticide residues are tested per lot against EU MRL limits, alongside ochratoxin A, heavy metals by ICP-MS and a full microbiological panel. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard, with steam sterilisation available where a tight microbiological specification applies.
Documentation: Every shipment is supplied against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate, MSDS, allergen and non-GMO declarations. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard; organic, Halal and Kosher certification are available on request. See our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements.
What backs every batch of Nutmeg spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Nutmeg carries one of the longer records of EU border rejections on mycotoxins among traded spices, and the reason is structural rather than incidental. The kernel is oily and slow-drying, and where it has been broken, shrivelled or breached by insect damage, moulds have a route in that a sound nut does not offer. Because damaged nuts are also the cheapest material available, the risk sits precisely where price pressure pushes buyers. Two controls answer it properly. Per-lot testing matters because a certificate covering a previous consignment is worth very little when the current one is sampled on arrival — border authorities test what is in front of them. BGY fluorescence sorting matters because it is preventive: under ultraviolet light, nuts likely to carry contamination show a bright greenish-yellow fluorescence and can be removed before the lot is made up, rather than the whole consignment being refused afterwards. We test every lot against EU aflatoxin limits and offer BGY sorting on request. Buyers should also confirm whether nutmeg from their intended origin currently sits on any increased-controls listing, since those are revised periodically and set sampling frequency on arrival.
As with clove and cinnamon, we would rather be straightforward than let a general Indian-supply impression carry a product it should not. India grows nutmeg in Kerala, but Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Grenada dominate world production, and material moving through Indian trade and processing is frequently of those origins. We state raw-material origin per lot. This matters practically: certificate-of-origin and preferential-duty documentation follow the actual sourcing route rather than the shipping point, and marketing that implies Indian-grown nutmeg would not be supportable. Where Indian-grown material is specifically required it can be sourced, but it should be specified rather than assumed.
Whole spices from India face closer residue scrutiny than most agricultural imports, and pesticide MRL is where consignments are most often stopped. We test per lot rather than per contract against EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 limits, because a certificate covering an earlier lot does not help when the current one is sampled at the border. Buyers should also confirm whether their commodity and origin currently sit on any increased-controls listing, since those are revised periodically and determine sampling frequency on arrival. Ethylene oxide remains one of the most common reasons Indian spice consignments are refused in the EU: we supply a non-treatment declaration as standard and can test by LC-MS/MS on request.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI registered, Spices Board and APEDA registered exporter. Raw-material origin is stated per lot; aflatoxin is tested per lot with BGY fluorescence sorting available. Shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate and full export documentation. Packing is buyer-specified, and container stuffing photographs are provided on request.
Guides on nutmeg grades, standardisation and sourcing
Where nutmeg comes from and how the trade routes actually work.
TechnicalHow the characteristic constituent is assayed and reported.
QualitySubstitution routes on nutmeg and the controls that catch them.
Buyer's GuideGrades, parts and what to require on the certificate.
RegulatoryResidue limits, per-lot testing and what stops consignments at the border.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian spices.
Related products from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
ABCD large, sound and ground grades with aflatoxin tested per lot, volatile oil declared, BGY fluorescence sorting available and origin stated. Tell us your grade and mycotoxin specification.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.