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Can the cinnamon challenge kill you?
An Internet meme with potentially risky consequences is sweeping the Web. The question is, can the brutal 'cinnamon challenge' be potentially fatal as well?
Fri, Feb 03 2012 at 12:22 PM
Photo: katrindell/iStockphoto
If someone can explain the appeal of the cinnamon challenge, can they clue in the rest of us? The dastardly dare that has the Internet aflutter involves the task of eating a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, without water, in less than a minute.
What could be so tough about consuming a mouthful of this innocuous-seeming spice? If cinnamon inspires thoughts of comforting apple pie and cozy cinnamon rolls, switch gears and consider Atomic Fireballs, Lava Hot Cinnamon Balls, and Hot Tamales. Cinnamon is potent, as evidenced by the reactions recorded in many a cinnamon-challenge YouTube video — coughing, choking, gagging, vomiting, crying, cursing and general signs of severe discomfort.
But all the panicked retching aside, can swallowing a mouthful of cinnamon be dangerous, or even deadly?
To understand the potency of cinnamon, ponder this: Cinnamaldehyde, the organic compound that gives the spice its distinctive flavor, is used as a pesticide and fungicide. It’s strong enough to kill little things, for heaven’s sake. The EPA warns of acute dermal toxicity; acute oral toxicity; eye irritation; dermal irritation and dermal sensitization. Granted, this is just a component of cinnamon used in concentration, but still, this demure seasoning clearly has a wicked side.
Related on MNN: A parent's guide to the cinnamon challenge
There are two species used in the ground cinnamon found in the spice aisle, Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Cassia is interesting in that it contains substantial amounts of coumarin. Coumarin is the parent compound of warfarin (known by its trademarked name, Coumadin), a medication used to keep blood from clotting. Coumarin is mighty powerful and can affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. In people who are sensitive, coumarin might cause or worsen liver disease.
Due to concerns about the possible effects of coumarin, several years ago the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment warned against consuming large amounts of Cassia cinnamon.
And then there’s the burn. Parenting experts recommend keeping spices out of reach from children. One of the threats to children who play in the spice cabinet is cinnamon, which when ingested can cause severe burning of the mouth and throat, requiring immediate medical attention. The burning may be so severe that the child can suffer from swelling of the mouth or throat, blocking access to air and potentially leading to death.
Obviously infants aren’t participating in the dare, and it's highly doubtful we'll witness an infant cinnamon challenge trend, but it goes to show that cinnamon is a formidable flavoring. All one needs to see is a few “cinnamon challenge fail” videos on the Web to view the effect on teens and young adults when the powder is inhaled — which is pretty much inevitable following the gasps that occur upon the initial burning. Immediate coughing and choking are de rigeuer.
Also on MNN: 13 plants that could kill you
In many cases, the coughing is so severe that the challengee has difficulty catching his breath. For anyone suffering from asthma or COPD, this can be very serious. And in fact, ground cinnamon can lead to a bronchial constriction — according to the University of Michigan Health System — and that can be life threatening.
Cinnamon also contains as essential oil called cinnamal, which can act as an allergen in a fair amount of people. Those who are allergic to cinnamon can suffer from contact dermatitis — and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cinnamon can also cause a severe allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylactic shock. We can only hope that someone who knows they are allergic to cinnamon would politely decline the challenge; but for someone who wasn’t aware of the existence or severity of an allergy, the results could be … challenging.
So, can the cinnamon challenge kill you? Although no accounts of death by cinnamon have been reported, there are indeed risks — and it seems only a matter of time until the challenge delivers a fatal blow to some unsuspecting teen.
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I am thinking the best way to stop this Cinnamon Challenge Madness is for YouTube to remove all the cinnamon challenge videos.
Are you saying that you are a fan of censorship?
These guys have like 60 ppl doing it and nothing worse than a coughing fit appears.
http://youtu.be/EZuaUhHukjc
Well if you try it you better not inhale, cinnamon and water don't mix, try it with a glass of water. So the problem is when you inhale the small particles could go into your lungs and cause respiratory problems. Now that might not happen and all you do is end up puking or it could be totally harmless as many ppl have tried and nothing happens at all except some coughing and you find out you really don't like the taste of cinnamon that much. :/
actually you can't take a drink of water...well you can but it would be useless because it won't force the cinnamon down. Cinnamon has a property that makes it "afraid" of water.
Jimminy Crickets....cinnamon may not disolve in water, but is does disperse in water. NO WHERE IN THE WORLD does it say that Cinnamon is AFRAID of WATER!!!
I stupidly did it and it made me throw up everywhere and then after i had a realy sore throte. I dont know why i did it because its so stupid and pointless. so if anyones thinking of doing it then dont, or at least know what you are getting yourself in for!
I did the cinnamon challenge. Only, I didn't take a tablespoon full of cinnamon. I took a 1/2 teaspoon. Then took water after. I only started to cough and gag. And my eyes started to water. I didn't know it could effect your heath. I'm glad I didn't take the tablespoon.
The cinnamon challenge HAS killed someone! It has happened! If anyone is even CONSIDERING the Cinnamon Challenge, DON'T BE AN IDIOT! This thing is DANGEROUS!
I love how someone said that this misused the term meme a meme is just an internet trend there are several different types of memes cinnamon challenge can also be defined as a meme
I'm horrified by the misuse of the term "meme."
#im sorry but this stuff is dangerous and i don't care what anybody says about it not being dangerous when you know it is..It has killed many people! some people need a life if there sitting here wasting there life on this stupid mess!!
it has killed many people? Who where when? They clearly said in the article no deaths have been reported? Is that no longer true? I would like some facts if indeed people have died from it?
Actually it has, here in the U.S.. I don't remember exactly when and where, but I am able to recall it being this year. They reported the death of a young teenage boy in the news recently, even broadcasting the interview they did with that boy's mother. I remember her expressing her grief and regret for her son, and how she's going around trying to prevent anymore deaths from occuring :(
Don't trust the news, they often lie about popular stuff like this to get ratings.
i did the cinnamon challenge............. and i puked..... it was not fun at all......... Some people dont even take a ''spoonfull of cinnamon'' they take a really bid portion'' lol welll dont die people!
I found out my son took a spoonful of cinnamon in the afternoon and has now thrown up twice during the night. I'm worried about his airway-bronchial spasm.
I encourage you to take him in to urgent care to get him checked.
1/4 tea spoon of cinnamon in oatmeal and coffee every day helps lower your sugar levels if to high. Most people with type 2 have tried this and it works. helping lowering there levels. Plus why is it in the top 10 health foods. Yes i agree use it wise,
8 and 9 year olds doing the challenge....so scary!!!!!!!!
That is because those 8 to 9 years olds dont think
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