Is the Sassafras Root Edible? A Guide to Its Risks and History

November 21, 2025 •

3 min read

In 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of sassafras and its volatile oil, safrole, as a food additive due to significant safety concerns. This action effectively makes consuming the sassafras root, which contains concentrated levels of safrole, a serious health risk and therefore not safely edible.

Quick Summary

This guide details why sassafras root, a former ingredient in root beer and herbal teas, is not safe for consumption, focusing on its cancer-causing compound safrole and regulations against its use.

Key Points

Sassafras Root is Dangerous: The root and bark contain high levels of safrole, a compound linked to liver cancer in animal studies.
FDA Bans and Health Warnings: The FDA has banned safrole as a food additive and warned against sassafras tea due to its toxic effects.
Safrole is Carcinogenic: Studies in laboratory animals showed that concentrated safrole can cause liver damage and cancer.
Safrole-Free Alternatives Exist: Commercial products, such as modern root beer, use processed sassafras extracts with the safrole removed to ensure safety.
Other Dangers Beyond Cancer: Ingestion of concentrated sassafras oil can cause serious side effects, including vomiting, high blood pressure, and hallucinations.
Filé Powder is Generally Safe: The leaves of the sassafras tree, when dried and ground into filé powder, contain very low levels of safrole and are used safely as a culinary thickener.
Avoid Homemade Preparations: The risks of preparing your own teas or extracts from sassafras root are high due to uncontrolled and potentially dangerous concentrations of safrole.
Specific Populations at Risk: Pregnant women, children, and individuals with liver conditions should strictly avoid all parts of the sassafras plant containing safrole.

Sassafras Root: The Historic Flavor with a Dangerous Secret

Historically cherished for its unique, sweet aroma, the sassafras tree has been a significant part of North American culinary and medicinal traditions for centuries. Native American tribes used different parts of the plant for teas, poultices, and flavorings. Early European settlers, captivated by its aromatic qualities, exported sassafras to Europe, where it was briefly valued as a commodity. This rich history, however, is overshadowed by a critical discovery made in the mid-20th century regarding a toxic compound concentrated in its root and bark: safrole.

The Discovery of Safrole's Carcinogenic Effects

In the 1950s and 1960s, scientific studies found that safrole, the main volatile oil in sassafras root, caused liver cancer in lab animals when administered in high doses. This discovery was a game-changer, leading the U.S. FDA to ban its use as a food additive in 1960 and later banning sassafras tea specifically in 1976. The evidence of carcinogenic and hepatotoxic (liver-damaging) potential from concentrated safrole means that traditional preparation methods, such as boiling the root bark for tea, pose a significant health risk.

Modern Alternatives to Traditional Sassafras

Today, commercial food products, including root beer, use artificial flavors or safrole-free sassafras extracts. This process removes the harmful compound while preserving some of the characteristic flavor. Foragers and homebrew enthusiasts must understand the distinction: commercial products are safe precisely because they have been processed to remove the toxic component. Unprocessed sassafras root and bark are not safe for internal consumption.

Why Consuming Unprocessed Sassafras Root is Still Dangerous

Some foragers and enthusiasts may still debate the risks, citing anecdotal evidence or arguing that traditional uses involved lower concentrations. However, medical and regulatory bodies strongly advise against it.

Concentrated Safrole: The process of boiling or distilling sassafras root bark can concentrate the safrole to dangerous levels, far exceeding what would be considered safe. Consuming just a small amount of concentrated sassafras oil could be fatal for an adult.
Long-Term Health Effects: While a single, small exposure might not cause immediate symptoms, the carcinogenic effects are linked to long-term or cumulative exposure. The risk of developing cancer increases with the duration and amount of consumption over time.
Uncontrolled Dosing: Unlike regulated pharmaceuticals, homemade teas or extracts offer no control over the final concentration of safrole. This makes it impossible to know how much of the toxin is being ingested, dramatically increasing the risk.

Comparison of Sassafras Parts: Safety and Uses

To illustrate the difference in safety and historical use, here is a comparison of various sassafras plant parts:


Plant Part	Typical Safrole Concentration	Historical Culinary Use	Modern Safety Profile
Root Bark	High Concentration (especially in volatile oils)	Brewed for teas and root beer	Likely Unsafe for consumption due to high safrole levels and carcinogenic risk
Dried Leaves	Very Low Concentration	Ground into filé powder for thickening gumbo	Likely Safe when used in small, culinary amounts. Note: Excessive use is not recommended.
Safrole-Free Extract	Safrole Removed	Used as a flavor additive in commercial food and beverages	Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) for use in commercially produced food products.
Essential Oil	Up to 80% Safrole	Used in perfumes and soaps	Highly Toxic if ingested. For external, aromatic use only, and heavily regulated.

Beyond Culinary Risks: Other Dangers of Sassafras

Safrole is not just a carcinogen; it is a controlled substance due to its use as a precursor chemical for the illegal drug MDMA (Ecstasy). As such, the sale and transport of sassafras oil is monitored by regulatory agencies. Other adverse effects of sassafras containing safrole include: vomiting, high blood pressure, hallucinations, and liver damage. It is also highly unsafe for certain populations, including pregnant or breastfeeding women and children.

The Final Verdict on Consuming Sassafras Root

While sassafras holds a nostalgic place in American history, its unprocessed root and bark are not safely edible due to the concentrated presence of the carcinogenic compound safrole. Modern regulations and scientific understanding have clarified the severe risks associated with its consumption. To enjoy the flavor safely, rely on commercially available, safrole-free extracts or use dried leaves (filé powder) in appropriate culinary applications. The risks of preparing and ingesting raw sassafras root far outweigh any perceived benefits.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before using any herbal supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, sassafras root is not safe to eat. It contains the chemical safrole, which is considered a potential carcinogen and has been banned by the FDA for use in food.

The FDA banned sassafras and its oil, safrole, after studies showed that high doses caused liver damage and cancer in laboratory animals. The ban prevents its use in commercially produced foods and beverages.

Yes, modern commercially produced root beer is safe to drink. It does not use sassafras root containing safrole; instead, it uses artificial flavorings or processed, safrole-free sassafras extracts.

You can still find and purchase sassafras root bark, but it is heavily regulated. It should only be used externally or with extreme caution, and never for internal consumption, due to the safrole content.

Sassafras root contains concentrated levels of the carcinogen safrole. Filé powder, made from dried sassafras leaves, contains a much lower, less harmful concentration of safrole and is traditionally used as a safe culinary thickening agent.

The dried and ground leaves (filé powder) are generally considered safe for culinary use in small amounts, as they contain very low levels of safrole. However, the root bark and concentrated oils are not safe for ingestion.

Ingesting sassafras oil, which is highly concentrated with safrole, can be extremely dangerous. Symptoms include vomiting, high blood pressure, hallucinations, and can be fatal.