Thursday, November 02, 2006

The ban itself - Code of Federal Regs issue

The ban was based on a "weak" liver carcinogen - but no reference to that in people. This must refer to the testing, done on the rats who are naturally averse.

"1961 - A scientific committee appointed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare finds that safrole, a natural component of sassafras, is a weak hepatic (liver) carcinogen. Immediate action is taken under authority of the Delaney Clause to stop the use of safrole and oil of sassafras in root beer, sarsaparilla and other beverages and foods."

See CRS Report at ncseonline।org/nle/crsreports/pesticides/pest-5।cfm.Last event in that chronology was 1995, and no reviews of the safrole issue shown further.

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