“Most Americans have never tasted the Tonka bean— a mysterious, fragrant ingredient banned for use in food by the FDA, yet beloved by chefs worldwide. In this investigative video, I explore why Tonka beans, which smell like vanilla, almond, and cinnamon, are illegal in the U.S., despite their widespread culinary use in Europe, Latin America, and high-end kitchens.
We trace the story from the Amazon rainforest to the 1950s FDA crackdown, uncovering a forgotten regulatory panic that confused coumarin (a naturally occurring compound in Tonka beans) with rat poison and blood thinners like warfarin and Coumadin.
We'll go deep into FDA history, chemical scares, and the Delaney Clause—a 1958 amendment that reshaped food safety law in America.”
#PhilEdwards #coumarin #FDA #nutrition
https://youtu.be/tgHEMFM6KY4?si=ySh1l705UvE2IZLr

I only use Ceylon #cinnamon (C. verum) because I try to avoid #coumarin, which is poisonous. (You should, too.) In order to authenticate the cinnamon I buy, I am experimenting with ways to detect coumarin at home. This sample is C. burmannii and the fluorescence you see here should be coumarin. In addition, my C. cassia and an el cheapo cinnamon of unknown type (I presume cassia) showed this. My two C. verum samples had nothing.
My attempt was to get the coumarin out with methanol (or I guess you can use cheap moonshine), and drip it on NaOH (drain opener) soaked #Aeropress filters, then dry and illuminate with UV. Am I right here? Anyone? #homelab #chemistry