‘Cinnamon challenge’ trend sparks health concerns

Health officials are concerned over the popularity of the sweet-sounding "cinnamon challenge," a bizarre new craze in which people attempt to swallow one tablespoon of cinnamon in under a minute, according to NPR. 

The American Association of Poison Control Centers told CBS that nearly 90 percent of phone calls in the first three months of 2012 were connected to the "cinnamon challenge," an increase of over 240 percent from the whole of 2011.

Cinnamon, it turns out, is quite a powerful spice. Not only is it a strong drying agent, but it also obstructs the glands that generate saliva, leading to dangerous chocking incidents that, in turn, have lead to a flood of urgent calls to poison control centers across the country. 

The "cinnamon challenge" is a mostly teen-led phenomenon that is spreading, predictably, through the Internet. Numerous videos of people attempting the "cinnamon challenge" can be seen on YouTube, according to NPR. 

The American Association of Poison Control Center's National Poison Data System shows a total of 139 calls related to 13- to 19-year-olds and cinnamon in the last three months alone, reported NPR, noting that most of the calls were filed under "intentional misuse or abuse."

"We urge parents and caregivers to talk to their teens about the cinnamon challenge, explaining to their teens that what may seem like a silly game can have serious health consequences," the LA Times quoted Dr. Alvin C. Bronstein, medical and managing director of Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, as warning.