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Cinnamon challenge

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Cinnamon and a spoon, as used in the cinnamon challenge

The cinnamon challenge is a form of competitive eating. The objective of the challenge is to swallow a spoonful [1] of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking anything, then upload the video to the Internet.[2][3][4] The challenge is extremely difficult because the cinnamon quickly dries out the mouth,[3] making swallowing difficult.[2] The challenge has been around since 2001, and increased in popularity in 2007.[5] By 2010, many people had posted videos of themselves attempting this challenge on YouTube and other social networking websites.[3] The cinnamon challenge continues to be active,[1][6] with Twitter mentions peaking at nearly 70,000 per day in January 2012.[7] To date, the largest group attempt at the cinnamon challenge recorded was held at RMIT University in Australia and involved 64 participants in quick succession.[8]

Safety hazards

The stunt can be dangerous and even life-threatening. There is a risk of gagging on the cinnamon, especially if it forms a clump and clogs one's airways. Accidental inhalation of cinnamon can seriously damage the lungs[3] by causing inflammation and leading to infection.[9] Furthermore, due to the moderately toxic chemical compound coumarin present in cinnamon, European health agencies have warned against consuming it in large amounts.[10] The usual result of this stunt is "a coughing, gagging fit involving clouds of cinnamon" which "leaves some people gasping for air".[9] Sometimes those performing the stunt may gag and accidentally exhale the cinnamon through their noses. This often results in considerable irritation, discomfort, burning, or itching of the affected nasal tissue and nostrils. On YouTube, those afflicted with discomfort from nasal exhaling of cinnamon have been observed irrigating their noses or wiping their nostrils vigorously in an effort to relieve the irritation.[11][12] Vomiting is also a possibility. However, the risks can be worse: a high-school student in Michigan spent four days in a hospital with an infection and a collapsed right lung after attempting the cinnamon challenge.[13]

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 to swallow it.[14][15] Radio programmes have also aired segments of people performing this stunt,[16][17][18] and others in the public limelight have been reported as airing the stunt for public display, including NBA players Nick Young and JaVale McGee.[6][19]

Many people upload their cinnamon challenge to YouTube. For example, as comedian Colleen Ballinger told the Wall Street Journal, she took the challenge in character as Miranda Sings in February 2012, to increase her YouTube views after "hundreds of fans started asking her to take the ... challenge. ... Her video garnered 70,000 views after one week".[7] Another comedian, GloZell Green, has attracted more than 20 million views with her cinnamon challenge video.[20][21]

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.[22]

The challenge is similar to the saltine cracker challenge, which involves ingesting at least five saltine crackers (also known as soda crackers) within 60 seconds without drinking anything.[2][4] It is also similar to the Gallon challenge and Banana Sprite challenge.

References

  1. ^ a b "Cinnamon Challenge". KnowYourMeme. 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Shipman, Dustin (April 29, 2008). "'Dr. Food Science' mixes bananas and Sprite, conducts other questionable food experiments". The Joplin Globe. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Huget, Jennifer LaRue (April 5, 2010). "Swallowing cinnamon by the spoonful". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 08, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Waxman, Matthew (August 25, 2005). "Milking the situation: To support Florida batboy, I try other food challenges". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 08, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Google Insights for Search - Web Search Interest: "cinnamon challenge" - Worldwide, 2004-2007, Google Insights for Search, accessed March 21, 2012
  6. ^ a b Kogod, Sarah (November 17, 2011). "Nick & JaVale's Cinnamon Challenge". NBC Washington 4. Retrieved January 09, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Keates, Nancy. "Just a Spoonful of Cinnamon Makes the Internet Rounds", Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2012
  8. ^ "RMIT Cinnamon Challenge". YouTube. 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Painter, Kim. ""Cinnamon challenge:"" (Document). USA Today. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Harris, Emily. "German Christmas Cookies Pose Health Danger" (Document). National Public Radio. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  11. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c00AMqTLAc Avery cinnamon challenge ...... fail!!
  12. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d0F0YpbyAk cinnamon shot out the nose
  13. ^ "Michigan teen hospitalized after attempting 'cinnamon challenge'". Fox News. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  14. ^ Ledgerton, Selena (October 27, 2011). "Big Brother: Rave On". MSN TV (UK). Retrieved January 09, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Fletcher, Alex (October 27, 2011). "Big Brother: Housemates set Cinnamon Challenge to win '90s rave". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 07, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Gulp A Tablespoon Of Cinnamon. "The Cinnamon Challenge"". KROQ Radio (CBS Radio). June 8, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Dancing With the Stunts: The Cinnamon Challenge (Photos)". Mix Radio 104.1 (CBS Radio). Retrieved January 09, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "DO NOT Do The Cinnamon Challenge!". Us99country.radio.com (CBS Radio). January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Steinberg, Dan (November 16, 2011). "Nick Young and JaVale McGee eat spoonfuls of cinnamon". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 09, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Green, Glozell. "The Cinnamon Challenge ... by GloZell and her Big Behind Earrings", YouTube, January 30, 2012, accessed June 28, 2012
  21. ^ "YouTube Viewers Flock to Watch Quinn Take 'Cinnamon Challenge'". CBS Chicago. March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  22. ^ Youtube "Mythbusters Cinnamon Challenge", Youtube

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cinnamon_challenge&oldid=526271991"