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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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Everyone is different, if it did not effect one person who is to say it will not effect someone else. Is it worth it? Want to try someone that does the same, try eating 6 Saltine Crackers in 60 sec and try to whistle. It drys your month out and you can NOT inhale the cracker so no damage to you lungs, sinus etc...
Motor vehicle-related deaths of nearly 33,000 people in the U.S. in 2010 - no worries!! Potential (not actual!!) death from the cinnamon challenge - OMG! This is dangerous!!! Priorities: worrying about the cinnamon challenge is nowhere near the top of the list.
Yes it can,i tried it n I chocked but if I didnt have soda next to me i would of died:(
Brittany the soda didn't save you, your just lucky that is all, once that stuff is in your throat it closes your airways, you were just fortunate, the soda had nothing to do with it. AND don't fool yourself into believing if you have a soda and take the challenge the soda will save you. You will only be lucky (MAYBE and that is a BIG MAYBE) if you can get a tracheotomy to open up your airway, and I doubt any of your friends know how or would be there for you if you did need it.
That is just dumb...unless you are allergic to cinnamon, it will NOT close your throat...:/
What a load of rot, you are a senseless fearmonger. There's a line missing from your post, too . . .
Won't somebody PLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE think of the CHILDREN !!!!!!
Yes Cinnamonn isnt dissolvable so you can inhale it an choke to death
Cinnamon does dissolve in water, but it takes a little while and is best in hot water like a tea. Then it becomes a slimy mass and you need to whip it really well to make it palatable. It does lower blood sugar and cholesterol. But all alone without liquid? Forget it!!
For someone allergic to cinnamon and not aware of it or it's severity ...? Really?
Everybody of us, not aware of having an allergy (or it's) severity runs a risk even at breathing ... the "brutal" challenge ... why don't you just draw a line at explaining?
The Cinammon Challenge Is So Over Rated. Don't Try This At Home!
My brother asked me to participate in the cinnamon challenge. I failed miserably. I do NOT recommend this challenge to anyone.
If that was my brother asking me to take this challenge, i would say no. Why would you even agree to taking this challenge when you heard about the dangers of it. At least think about what would happen to you.
Sounds like Darwin will claim another.
Mankind needs a little bit of trimming in numbers, might as well have people write themselves off to help keep world population down :)
Thank you for such an informative article. My teen is suffering from the effects of the cinnamon challenge after coming home from a sleep over. Sadly, she's had chest pains, throat pains, and a nose bleed we've had to take her to the hospital to which she was treated. Please ask yourselves when it comes to dares, is this reasonable, is this loving, etc. If you do this it can save your parents a lot of heartache.
Thank you for sharing your story behind this challenge. I hope your child is feeling better soon. In my opinion , it is a step towards risky behavior. We all work hard at teaching our children to say no. This is a beginning of the peer pressure types of things kids have to face and hopfully a huge lesson can be learned from it with minamal negative impact. Again, thanks for making us all more aware.
You're on another site signing a petition to ban poppyseed muffins right now, aren't you.
Sooo 2011. :p
Laugh it up, morons. One day someone will die from this, it will be from some very, very minute case, but the more people trying it (and looking very stupid), the quicker we get to the day when somebody with asthma or an allergy does try it.
I have asthma and i did it last nite its not as bad as everybody puts it out to be...
When you have asthma you should have not have not done this stupid challenge. when you say that it not so bad and you end up in hospital bed that, is going to be your fault because you knew already that you had asthma. I feel so bad for your parents that dont know about you taking this challenge.
well you are very lucky cause i know a child that spent 2 days in the hospital due to swellng of the tongue...please dont put such an irresonible comment out there you are doing real damge...very very sad
It jst dries ur mouth yall sound dumb..... i did it and i felt fine after 2min and i made 10$. My dad did it rite Before me and he was fine. And i have asthma and i would do it again..... Cuz i had fun...
Well your dad is being iresponseable parent for even letting you take this challenge. im pretty sure dad is wanting you to die and i wonder whos fault thats going to be. You are to dumn for doing this. its like throwing your life and you dont care for it.
So, ban cinnamon then?
ZOMG CINNAMON CAN KILL YOU BAN IT NOW!!!!!1111
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