On 2010-06-11, Sky > wrote:
> Since both gumbo file' and rootbeer are derived from sassafras, can they
> be substituted for each other?

Probably not, as I doubt there are any commercial root beers that
actually include real sassafras. In fact, sassafras was banned as an
ingredient in root beer until the health food whackos lobbied to turn
dietary supplements into a dangerous free-for-all. Read the wiki on
sassafras and follow a few relevent links. Very enlightening.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassafras

nb