Alert over health risks of eating wild asparagus in France
Close to 50 cases of poisoning from wild plant were recorded between 2010 and 2020
If you want to eat the popular spring vegetable, purchase it or grow it in your garden instead of foraging for it
Ivan Sumic/Shutterstock
French health officials are warning people about the risks of eating wild asparagus as the season for the prized plant begins.
Eating wild asparagus (asperge de bois) can result in swelling of the mouth and throat and difficulty swallowing, and in certain cases lead to serious illness.
Anses, France’s national body for food safety, said that studies on wild asparagus showed the presence of “numerous calcium oxalate raphides, microscopic crystals known for their 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 swelling of the tissues,” it said in a report.
The symptoms can become present between three and four hours after eating wild asparagus.
Between 2010 and 2020, 48 cases of poisoning were reported following the ingestion of wild asparagus. One case in 2019 led to a serious case of poisoning in eastern France.
Those who eat wild produce such as asparagus or mushrooms and then feel sick should immediately call their local poison control centre, or if the situation is urgent, emergency services.
Read more: Alert over mushroom picking in France after death and poisonings
Cooking does not resolve problem
Unlike several other cases of poisoning, symptoms are not instant, but appear slowly after several hours, notes Anses.
When multiple people consume the same batch of wild asparagus – for example during a meal after someone has collected it – only some become poisoned, pointing to individual immunity or sensitivity to the crystals.
Cooking does not remove the crystals thought responsible for the symptoms, meaning there is no way to reduce the risk of poisoning and it is not known what causes the crystals.
If planning to eat asparagus, you should stay away from the wild variety and instead buy some from a supermarket or market instead of forage for wild-growing species.
The popular spring vegetable comes into season this month, lasting until early June.
Read more: Which fruits, vegetables and fish are in season in France this April?
