The National Health Security Agency (ANSES) appeals to “surveillance” this Thursday, April 3 with respect to the consumption of wood asparagus. The body warns that “this wild plant can cause sometimes serious poisoning: throat swelling, difficulty swallowing.”
“A priori edible”, this plant grows in spring “in meadows, embankments and forests of almost all hexagonal France, as well as in Corsica,” develops handles. The problem, a sampling analysis “revealed the presence of many calcium oxalate raffia, microscopic crystals known for its irritating effect.”
“The most likely hypothesis is that these crystals could damage the skin and mucous membranes and facilitate the passage of inflammatory or toxic substances, causing local tissue swelling,” develops handles.
48 cases of poisoning in 10 years
Health authorities indicate that, between 2010 and 2020, antipotian centers have identified “48 cases of poisoning linked to the consumption of wood asparagus.”
The symptoms, which occur approximately three hours after consumption, “were mainly intense pain of the pharynx, swelling of the mouth or throat, as well as the difficulties in swallowing.” If these symptoms appear after the consumption of wood asparagus, ANSS recommends calling 15 or 112 and “taking a picture of the plants consumed before cooking” to identify them if the poisoning is demonstrated.
Source: BFM TV
