A Comprehensive Review of the Nutritional Composition and Toxicological Profile of Date Seed Coffee (Phoenix dactylifera).

Featured Application: This review evaluates the potential of date seed coffee as a sustainable and caffeine-free alternative to traditional coffee. The authors propose an environmentally friendly approach to beverage production by utilizing discarded date seeds. The findings provide comprehensive evidence supporting the safe consumption of date seed coffee, as demonstrated by a thorough toxicological risk assessment. This application aims to reduce waste and introduce a new culinary use for date seeds, providing a distinctive flavor profile and potential health benefits to the European market. Approximately 8 million tons of dates (Phoenix dactylifera) are produced globally each year. The seeds of the fruit, which make up 10–15% of its weight, are typically discarded. Date seed coffee is a sustainable food system innovation rooted in the traditions of high date-producing regions. Dating back to the late 19th century, date seed coffee has evolved from a historical coffee substitute to a modern caffeine-free alternative. Date seed coffee has a long history of consumption in the European Union (EU). This indicates that it may not require novel food authorization. The composition of date seeds is evaluated in this review and a toxicological risk assessment for date seed coffee is conducted. Subchronic studies show that consuming date seed or date seed coffee has no adverse effects. Therefore, currently unavailable chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity studies may be unnecessary. However, for a comprehensive evaluation, it is recommended to conduct an in vitro mutagenicity test. This review provides information on the safety of date seed coffee and highlights the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]