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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 don't think the overwhelming concern on this topic is necessary. The truth is, nobody has died from it, and besides a short trip to the hospital, it's harmless. Skateboarding causes 10x more injuries. What we should be talking about is the effect of propaganda like "Jersey Shore". Thats the REAL poison infecting our country today.
I, in fact, have a thing for cinnamon and I do often eat a teaspoon of it. Good cinnamon has a bit of sweetness to it and for some reason, I found I operate well after taking a teaspoon WITH WATER. That said, this "challenge" is silly. If you want a challenge, replace the cinammon with cayenne pepper. I HAVE nearly killed myself accidentally inhaling cayenne from things I've sprinkled it on (I also love hot spices...ha ha).
This is indeed dangerous - just heard today about a Canadian teen who died suddenly in her sleep a few weeks ago. Her death is being attributed to the cinnamon challenge, which she and a friend were doing that evening. A co-worker told me this - the girl was a friend of her nieces. Very, very sad and so unnecessary.
This article is sensationalism. What else needs to be said?
First of all the cinnammon challenge has been on the internet longer than 2012. People only send awareness now because of popularity? This thing became popular 2008, then came in another new energy. It is as if people forget a fad and then when it comes back they think its the first since since discovering a galaxy.
Yeah, I agree. I had heard about this challenge years ago. Also, it was originally from 2001, but really it did become popular just a few years ago.
I just read an article at InsidersHealth about this as well, dangerous health games kids play. They listed the cinnamon challenge as having a health risk, but there are so many other games that kids take a chance with (like the choking game or eyeball vodka shots) that make cinnamon seem innocent!
I totally agree! This is dangerous, and has a risk of dying. This should be a felony or something. Like insulting a bus operator is a felony. Let's work together as a group and try to stop this, if parents work together, we could save the lives of innocent teenagers!
::sarcasm:: Ban the sale and possession of all cinnamon in the USA.
Why should taking the cinnamon chalange be a felony? there is konw reason for making it a felony. that would be the peoples fault for takin the chalange. if they get sick and die from it that would eventually be their fault.
*no
Not "know"
Yes because EVERYBODY reacts the same way to things -sarcasm-
Not even just because of allergies, but did you ever accidentally swallow something "down the wrong tube"? Doing that here could be fatal.
Yes well the whole point of the article is that different people have different pre-existing conditions which can make them more susceptible to being harmed by this. Just because it didn't have any effect on you, does not mean it can't harm someone else.
Please I'll take a cup of it and eat it
i don't get why people even take the challenge, i mean why would they do it, to be cool? you put your life at risk
It's cause it tastes so good
Ice cream taste good and it comes in many different flavors.
I think we better make cinnamon illegal immeidately to keep it out of the hands of teenagers. It's clearly a gateway drug.
i think your bad at thinking cinnamon is really good there is nothing wrong with it. It do not need to be taken away from us. DISLIKE
I use it as a supplement for diabetes - I don't want them to take it off the market. I don't take it in that form though. i take a capsule..fec58
ever hear of sarcasm
obviously sarcasm......
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