Cinnamon challenge
{{Short description|Viral internet food challenge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
The cinnamon challenge is a food challenge that gained viral recognition on social media in the early 2010s. Participants generally film themselves attempting to eat a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking anything.{{cite news |title='Dr. Food Science' mixes bananas and Sprite, conducts other questionable food experiments |work=The Joplin Globe |first=Dustin |last=Shipman |date=April 29, 2008 |url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/food/local_story_120162143.html/resources_printstory |access-date=October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216091812/http://www.joplinglobe.com/food/local_story_120162143.html/resources_printstory |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/04/swallowing_cinnamon.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627104115/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/04/swallowing_cinnamon.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 27, 2012 | title=Swallowing cinnamon by the spoonful | newspaper= The Washington Post |date=April 5, 2010 |access-date=2012-01-08|author=Huget, Jennifer LaRue}}{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/matthew_waxman/08/25/daily.blog/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218041405/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/matthew_waxman/08/25/daily.blog/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 18, 2005 |title=Milking the situation: To support Florida batboy, I try other food challenges |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=August 25, 2005 |access-date=2012-01-08 |author=Waxman, Matthew}} The challenge is difficult and carries substantial health risks because the cinnamon can coat and dry the mouth and throat, possibly resulting in coughing, gagging, vomiting, and inhalation of cinnamon, which can in turn lead to throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and risk of pneumonia{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2012-mar-28-la-heb-teen-cinnamon-challenge-20120328-story.html | title = Teens' 'cinnamon challenge': Dangerous, not innocent | access-date = March 28, 2013 | last = Healy | first = Melissa | date = March 28, 2012 | newspaper = Los Angeles Times}} or a collapsed lung.
The challenge has been described online since 2001, and increased in popularity in 2007, peaking abruptly in January 2012 and falling off almost as sharply through the first half of that year, then tapering off almost to its previous level by 2014.[https://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=Cinnamon%20challenge Google Insights for Search - Web Search Interest: "cinnamon challenge" - Worldwide, 204 - present], Google Insights for Search, accessed July 26, 2016{{Primary source inline|date=February 2014}} By 2010, many people had posted videos of themselves attempting this challenge on YouTube and other social networking websites. At the peak, Twitter mentions reached nearly 70,000 per day.{{cite web | url= http://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/capital-games/Nick--JaVale-Do-The-Cinnamon-Challenge-134009978.html | title=Nick & JaVale's Cinnamon Challenge | publisher= NBC Washington 4 | date=November 17, 2011 | access-date=January 9, 2012 | author=Kogod, Sarah}}
Health dangers
The stunt can be dangerous, as there is a risk of gagging or choking on the cinnamon, especially if it forms a clump and clogs one's airways. Accidental inhalation of cinnamon can seriously damage the lungs by causing inflammation and leading to infection.{{cite news | last = Painter | first = Kim | title = Cinnamon challenge | url = http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthyperspective/post/2012-03-19/cinnamon-challenge-viral-videos-with-health-risks/651200/1 | access-date = March 19, 2012 | newspaper = USA Today | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140225104208/http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthyperspective/post/2012-03-19/cinnamon-challenge-viral-videos-with-health-risks/651200/1 | archive-date = February 25, 2014 | url-status = dead }} The usual result of this stunt is "a coughing, gagging fit involving clouds of cinnamon" which "leaves some people gasping for air". Sometimes those performing the stunt may gag, choke or cough and accidentally exhale the cinnamon through their noses, coating their skin and mucous membranes in cinnamon.{{cite book | last1=Vohora | first1=D. | last2=Vohora | first2=S.B. | title=Safety Concerns for Herbal Drugs | publisher=CRC Press | year=2015 | isbn=978-1-4822-5662-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zY_wCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 | access-date=May 29, 2017 | page=79}} As cinnamon is rich in the compound cinnamaldehyde that can irritate skin and tissues,{{cite journal|author=Olsen RV, Andersen HH, Møller HG, Eskelund PW, Arendt-Nielsen L |year=2014 |title=Somatosensory and vasomotor manifestations of individual and combined stimulation of TRPM8 and TRPA1 using topical L-menthol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in healthy volunteers |journal=European Journal of Pain |volume=18 |issue=9 |pages=1333–42 |doi=10.1002/j.1532-2149.2014.494.x |pmid=24664788|s2cid=34286049 }} the challenge often results in considerable irritation, discomfort, burning, or itching of the affected nasal tissue and nostrils. Preclinical studies in rats have shown that the cellulose fibers which comprise cinnamon are also responsible for triggering allergic hypersensitivity reactions.{{cite journal|author=Grant-Alfieri A, Schaechter J, Lipshultz SE|title=Ingesting and aspirating dry cinnamon by children and adolescents: the "cinnamon challenge". |journal=Pediatrics |year=2013 |volume=131 |issue=5 |pages=833–5 |pmid=23610205 |doi=10.1542/peds.2012-3418 |pmc=3639465 |url=}} On YouTube, people have been seen "coughing, choking and lunging for water, usually as friends watch and laugh." Vomiting is also known to have occurred.{{cite web|url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/consequences-of-the-cinnamon-challenge/?_r=0 |title=Consequences of the 'Cinnamon Challenge' |first=Anahad |last=O'Connor |date=April 22, 2013 |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161107102407/http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/consequences-of-the-cinnamon-challenge/?_r=1 |website=The New York Times |df=mdy }}
Cinnamon contains the chemical coumarin which is moderately toxic to the liver and kidney if ingested in large amounts.{{Cite web|title=Coumarin in cinnamon and cinnamon-based products and risk of liver damage|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130508123127.htm|access-date=2020-09-28|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}}
The cinnamon challenge can be life-threatening or fatal.{{cite web |url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/kentucky-mom-urges-kids-stop-cinnamon-challenge-after-son-dies-cinnamon-can-kill-337268 |title=Mom Pleads For End Of Cinnamon Challenge After Spice Kills Son |date=June 9, 2015 |website= Medical Daily |access-date=June 10, 2016}} In the first three months of 2012, American poison control centers received over a hundred phone calls as a result of the cinnamon challenge. A teenager in Michigan spent four days in a hospital after attempting the cinnamon challenge.{{cite web|url= https://www.foxnews.com/health/michigan-teen-hospitalized-after-attempting-cinnamon-challenge/ |title=Michigan teen hospitalized after attempting 'cinnamon challenge' |publisher=Fox News |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2012}} Pneumonia, inflammation and scarring of the lungs, and collapsed lungs are further risks.{{cite news |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2012-mar-28-la-heb-teen-cinnamon-challenge-20120328-story.html |title=Teens' 'cinnamon challenge': Dangerous, not innocent |date=March 28, 2012}}{{cite web| url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cinnamon-challenge-dangerous-to-lungs-new-report-warns/ |title="Cinnamon challenge" dangerous to lungs, new report warns |publisher=CBS |date=April 22, 2013 |access-date=August 3, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Ewing |first=Samara |title=Cinnamon Challenge Game Has Serious Health Consequences |url=http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/196141/28/Cinnamon-Challenge-Game-Has-Serious-Health-Consequences |publisher=WUSA9 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425050608/http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/196141/28/Cinnamon-Challenge-Game-Has-Serious-Health-Consequences |archive-date=April 25, 2013 |df=mdy }}
In popular culture
The cinnamon challenge was aired on the twelfth series of the reality television show Big Brother UK, in which show participants were to ingest ground cinnamon without the aid of water.{{cite web | url=http://tv.uk.msn.com/blog/big-brother-blogpost.aspx?post=d6c35742-c968-4fde-ba86-e0aafe7bd140 | title=Big Brother: Rave On | publisher=MSN TV (UK) | date=October 27, 2011 | access-date=January 9, 2012 | author=Ledgerton, Selena | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102154018/http://tv.uk.msn.com/blog/big-brother-blogpost.aspx?post=d6c35742-c968-4fde-ba86-e0aafe7bd140 | archive-date=November 2, 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s149/big-brother/news/a347788/big-brother-housemates-set-cinnamon-challenge-to-win-90s-rave.html | title=Big Brother: Housemates set Cinnamon Challenge to win '90s rave | website= Digital Spy | date=October 27, 2011 | access-date=January 7, 2012 | author=Fletcher, Alex}} Radio programs have also aired segments of people performing this stunt,{{cite web | url= http://kroq.radio.com/2010/06/08/gulp-a-tablespoon-of-cinnamon-the-cinnamon-challenge/ |url-status=dead | title= Gulp A Tablespoon Of Cinnamon. "The Cinnamon Challenge" | publisher= KROQ Radio (CBS Radio) | date= June 8, 2010 | access-date= January 12, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101124021245/http://kroq.radio.com/2010/06/08/gulp-a-tablespoon-of-cinnamon-the-cinnamon-challenge/ | archive-date= November 24, 2010 }}{{cite web | url=http://mix1041.radio.com/2011/09/28/dancing-with-the-stunts-the-cinnamon-challenge-photos/#photo-1 | title=Dancing With the Stunts: The Cinnamon Challenge (Photos) | publisher=Mix Radio 104.1 (CBS Radio) | access-date=January 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020112554/http://mix1041.radio.com/2011/09/28/dancing-with-the-stunts-the-cinnamon-challenge-photos/#photo-1 | archive-date=October 20, 2011 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://us99country.radio.com/2011/01/14/do-not-do-the-cinimon-challenge/ | title=DO NOT Do The Cinnamon Challenge! | publisher=US99 (CBS Radio) | date=January 14, 2011 | access-date=January 12, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830011134/http://us99country.radio.com/2011/01/14/do-not-do-the-cinimon-challenge/ | archive-date=August 30, 2011 | url-status=dead }} and others in the public limelight have been reported as airing the stunt for public display, including NBA players Nick Young and JaVale McGee.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/nick-young-and-javale-mcgee-eat-spoonfulls-of-cinnamon/2011/11/16/gIQAlbf0RN_blog.html | title=Nick Young and JaVale McGee eat spoonfuls of cinnamon | newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=DC Sports Bog (blog) | date=November 16, 2011 | access-date=January 9, 2012 | author=Steinberg, Dan}}
File:Cinnamon Challenge At School 2 - excerpt.webm
Many people upload their cinnamon challenge to YouTube. Comedian Colleen Ballinger told The Wall Street Journal that she took the challenge in character as Miranda Sings in 2012 in order to increase her YouTube traffic after hundreds of her fans had asked her to take the challenge. Her video received more than 2 million views, even though it is on a discontinued YouTube channel.Keates, Nancy. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304537904577279663808279888 "Just a Spoonful of Cinnamon Makes the Internet Rounds"], The Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2012Ballinger, Colleen. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVjJ8rqFA_8 Cinnamon Challenge (Miranda Sings)"], YouTube, February 2012, accessed May 1, 2016 Another comedian, GloZell Green, has attracted more than 60 million views with her cinnamon challenge video, in which she uses a soup ladle full of cinnamon instead of the usual tablespoon.Green, Glozell. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyk7utV_D2I "The Cinnamon Challenge ... by GloZell and her Big Behind Earrings"], YouTube, January 30, 2012, accessed May 27, 2016{{cite web |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/03/19/youtube-viewers-flock-to-watch-quinn-take-cinnamon-challenge/ |title=YouTube Viewers Flock to Watch Quinn Take 'Cinnamon Challenge' |publisher=CBS Chicago |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2012}}
A large group attempt at the cinnamon challenge was held in 2012 at RMIT University in Australia and involved 64 participants in quick succession.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZuaUhHukjc |title=RMIT Cinnamon Challenge |publisher=YouTube |year=2012 |access-date=September 28, 2012}} In a 2012 episode of the Discovery Channel series MythBusters, each member of the Build Team attempted the challenge. Kari Byron and Grant Imahara failed, while Tory Belleci completed it by tucking his spoonful into his cheek and letting saliva accumulate in his mouth until he could swallow. However, it took him more than 60 seconds to do so.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXkGtJUP0WE "Mythbusters Cinnamon Challenge"], YouTube