The trouble with turmeric

Turmeric is trending at top speed, touted for its anti-inflammatory properties and role in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Lately, the golden spice has surfaced in beverages, snacks and chocolate bars.

“Everybody talks about turmeric, but turmeric is like cinnamon in that it is often positioned as a functional ingredient, but the amount you have to consume to get the benefits is not realistic,” Ms. Dornblaser said. “Like with cinnamon, it’s like three teaspoons a day, and it’s not possible to do that because it has such a strong taste. Turmeric is the same way.

“It definitely has health benefits, but I wonder about ingredients like that where consumers are really focusing on the halo, not the actual benefit.”