Cinnamon sticks are usually not consumed directly and are either ground into powder or used whole to release flavor, but some may wonder if they are safe to eat on their own.

While technically edible, as in they are not outright poisonous, there are some solid reasons why you shouldn't eat raw cinnamon sticks.

Cinnamon (cassia) contains coumarin, which can be toxic in large doses. Eating the sticks whole can put individuals sensitive to coumarin at greater risk.

They are also choking hazards, especially for children. Our stomachs cannot process the insoluble fiber either, so cinnamon sticks can wreak in the digestive system.

You don’t want to mess around with eating cinnamon sticks. Save them for their more traditional use of adding flavor to anything they are cooked with.