Shootinbud, I see no harm in the stuff either. And, I think it's pretty lame that something that has less toxins than probably a beer is illegal. That being said--I got this from the FDA website for your perusal. I think perhaps the lack of clear notices is probably indicative of a) more than just you and your dad goes to the woods to gather roots for tea b) I don't think it's a law that's really talked about, perhaps because it's another unpopular one c) with all the problems out there in the world--I really don't think law enforcement is going to have time to monitor all sassafras trees and the root usage of them
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/FCF189.htmlTITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES (CONTINUED)
PART 189--SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN HUMAN FOOD--Table of Contents
Subpart B--Substances Generally Prohibited From Direct Addition or Use
as Human Food
Sec. 189.180 Safrole.
(a) Safrole is the chemical 4-allyl-1,2-methylenedioxy-benzene,
C10H10O2. It is a natural constituent
of the sassafras plant. Oil of sassafras is about 80 percent safrole.
Isosafrole and dihydrosafrole are derivatives of safrole, and have been
used as flavoring compounds.
(b) Food containing any added safrole, oil of sassafras, isosafrole,
or dihydrosafrole, as such, or food containing any safrole, oil of
sassafras, isosafrole, or dihydrosafrole, e.g., sassafras bark, which is
intended solely or primarily as a vehicle for imparting such substances
to another food, e.g., sassafras tea, is deemed to be adulterated in
violation of the act based upon an order published in the Federal
Register of December 3, 1960 (25 FR 12412).
(c) The analytical method used for detecting safrole, isosafrole and
dihydrosafrole is in the "Journal of the Association of Official
Analytical Chemists," Volume 54 (Number 4), pages 900 to 902, July
1971, which is incorporated by reference. Copies are available from the
Division of Food and Color Additives, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the Office
of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,
Washington, DC 20408.
[42 FR 14659, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 42 FR 56729, Oct. 28, 1977;
47 FR 11855, Mar. 19, 1982; 54 FR 24900, June 12, 1989]
