Cinnamon bark oil is a spice, which has a high demand and high production cost, and hence is vulnerable to adulteration with a less expensive alternative such as synthetic petrochemical-derived cinnamaldehyde. Distinguishing biobased natural cinnamon bark oil from synthetic petrochemical cinnamaldehyde can be achieved by measuring the C14 content. The natural product will have a C14 content, whereas a petrochemical based product will not. Standard methods for measuring C14 from ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) or ISO are based on mass spectrometry., and will be able to verify those samples of cinnamon bark oil, which claim to have an "all natural ingredient".
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