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Many of the root beers of today still taste like sassafras, however, from artificial sassafras flavoring or extracts without safrole.

Note, however, that nutmeg is considered an intoxicant and is classified by some Muslim jurists as haram, as it’s laced with myristicin, which has hallucinogenic properties, and safrole, a chemical sometimes used in synthesizing the psychedelic MDMA.

They are quick to caution: Safrole cannot be used in people, in part because it is toxic and carcinogenic.

Chen is part the Stanford team, led by Daria Mochly-Rosen, which found that a chemical called safrole can recruit a completely different enzyme to the breakdown task, replacing the ineffective mutant.

Adding safrole, however, is like stuffing the toe of this new enzyme shoe with paper.