Why Did Sarsaparilla Get Banned? The Sassafras Health Scare Explained
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2 min read
In 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned sassafras oil, the primary flavoring agent in most commercial sarsaparilla and root beer, after animal studies linked it to cancer. This pivotal health scare is the real reason why did sarsaparilla get banned, though the sarsaparilla plant itself was not the focus.