Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a deciduous tree notable for its mitten-shaped leaves and pleasant scent.

Safrole which is a unique substance in Sassafras can not be found in significant quantity in any food products sold in the united states today. It was often used by Indian tribes to treat common ailments, as well as a way to have some sort of aromatherapy. Sassafras is the root root beer is made from.

The use of sassafras tea has been banned by FDA, owing to the dangers of sassafras. Because it used to be made from the Sassafras tree. Although the U.S. FDA has banned the use of safrole as a food additive and flavoring, sassafras and products containing sassafras can still be located.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a deciduous tree notable for its mitten-shaped leaves and pleasant scent. Sassafras is a tree with fragrant bark and leaves. In the 1960’s, the FDA determined that safrole was considered carcinogenic and banned the use of this root bark. In the 1970’s, sale of safrole-containing sassafras tea was also banned. In the 1960’s the FDA banned safrole’s use as an additive after safrole was found to cause liver cancer in rats, and miscarriages in humans. This explains why you will have a hard time trying to find root beer outside of the United States — people don't find the medicinal flavor appealing. Why? In the 1950s in a government study, Safrole had been force fed to rats over a long period of time and had been shown to cause cancer in those rats. Why It’s Banned In the past, sassafras was a widely used plant. For many years safrole was used to make tea, beverages, root beer and candy flavoring. The traditional root beer, made of sassafras root, was also banned by the FDA in 1960. Sassafras. Sassafras is the primary ingredient in traditional root beer as well as being used in the production of MDMA(ecstasy) and MDA. Official Reason behind the banning of Safrole. Sassafras albidum, native to all states east of the Mississippi River, comes from the Laurel family, which also includes bay, camphor, and cinnamon.Native Americans used sassafras leaves to make tea, and the bark as a cooking spice. Despite its tasty flavor, sassafras has largely been banned in the United States because the root bark contains safrole, a known carcinogen. The main constituent of the oil is safrole. The pleasant-tasting oil of sassafras comes from the roots and the root bark. It was also used as a cure for syphilis. Today’s root beer still contains Sassafras root, however it has been treated to remove the oil which contains the safrole. E arly 20th-century root beer used to be made from, among other things, sassafras root. One cup of tea made with 2.5 grams of sassafras contains about 200 mg of safrole. In the 1950s in a government study, Safrole had been force fed to rats over a long period of time and had been shown to cause cancer in those rats. The reason for the medicinal comparison is most likely due to the fact that root beer was originally made from sassafras.

But modern root beer doesn’t contain any real sassafras root anymore, why not? On the surface it looks like a clear and simple reason. In one report, the claim was made that one can of old-fashioned root beer, made with pure sassafras, would be considered 1/14th as carcinogenic as a can of regular beer due to alcohol content . It is said that the herb could sure a cold, stomach ache, and other ailments. Is Sassafras Poisonous to Dogs?. Read on to know more.. Sassafras tree, which is also known as cinnamon wood, ague, saxifrax is a deciduous tree, native to North America. Several years later, FDA banned the use of Sassafras tea too. The hollow candy egg is a hit overseas, and there have been multiple petitions and campaigns advocating to legalize it in the U.S. for several years.

Safrole smells …