FSAP Chem TS - 2014-15 Coumarin in cinnamon-containing foods and vanilla extracts - TS020 - Open Data

Targeted surveys provide information on potential food hazards and enhance the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA's) routine monitoring programs. These surveys provide evidence regarding the safety of the food supply, identify potential emerging hazards, and contribute new information and data to food categories where it may be limited or non-existent. They are often used by the Agency to focus surveillance on potential areas of higher risk. Surveys can also help to identify trends and provide information about how industry complies with Canadian regulations. Coumarin is a natural compound found in plants such as cinnamon and tonka beans. Coumarin was utilized as a flavouring agent in the food and perfume industries for many years until evidence of toxicological properties and potential adverse effects on the liver led to its use in food to be discontinued. Low exposure to coumarin from natural sources is expected and not anticipated to represent a health risk. The CFIA considered it important to examine the coumarin levels in commonly available cinnamon-containing products and vanilla extracts to ensure that the populations consuming these foods more frequently are not…

Publisher

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Resources

1

Catalogue metadata updated

2026-04-08