An object of the present invention is to provide magnesium oxide that can be preferably used for pharmaceutical applications or as a food additive. In particular, the object is to provide magnesium oxide granules with which tableting problems and quality defects can be reduced, and in more particular, to provide magnesium oxide granules with which tableting problems and quality defects can be reduced and which has less heavy metal incorporation and high purity of magnesium oxide. Provided are magnesium oxide granules for pharmaceutical applications or for addition to food having a BET specific surface area of 7 to 50 m2/g and CAA80/CAA40 of 2 to 7.