As May 1 approaches, the Grand-Est Regional Health Agency reminds us how to recognize wild garlic and lily of the valley to avoid serious poisoning.
- “In France, one of the regions most affected by these food confusions is the Grand Est (particularly Alsace)”, according to the ARS du Grand-Est.
- Ingestion of thrush and colchicum can lead to serious or even fatal poisoning.
- Therefore, the agency recommends making sure you know the characteristics of the plants when picking to avoid mistakes.
Picking and collecting flowers during a walk in the forest is what many French people do during the sunny days and in particular as May 1st approaches, namely Labor Day and the day when we traditionally offers lily of the valley to loved ones as a good luck charm. In a recent press releasethe Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the Grand-Est warns of the risk of confusion between wild garlic, colchicum and lily of the valley. “In France, one of the regions most affected by these food confusions is the Grand Est (particularly Alsace)”, she wrote.
Lily of the valley, colchicum: “Their ingestion can lead to serious or even fatal poisoning”
According to the ARS, wild garlic is often confused with colchicum, lily of the valley and gouet (spotted arum). As a reminder, wild garlic (Allium ursinum) and wild leek (Allium polyanthum) grow in the same undergrowth as colchicum (Colchicum autumnale) and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), close to each other. If wild garlic, which is currently of great culinary interest, is edible, this is not the case for other plants which are toxic. “Their ingestion can lead to serious or even fatal poisoning, depending on the quantity of leaves ingested and the very variable concentration of colchicine present in the plant. The association with certain common medications can increase the toxic risk.”
Thus, the agency recalls the characteristics of each plant to avoid confusion. Wild garlic has a garlicky smell, white star-shaped flowers and has an elongated white bulb. “The leaves are simple, elliptical and pointed. Each leaf extends a more or less long stem.” As for colchicum, its leaves are more rigid, fleshy, stemless, with a rounded tip and seem to come directly from the ground. Its bulb is round and dark. “Its purple flowers only appear in autumn. In spring, only the leaves are visible, which leads to confusion.” Lily of the valley has white flowers in the shape of small bells which are arranged along a single scape. Around them, two, sometimes three, leaves stand up. The latter give off a sweet, slightly musky scent.
The rules to follow when picking wild garlic
When picking wild garlic, the ARS recommends:
- Make sure you know the characteristics of the plant
- Check for the presence of a garlic smell by crumpling each leaf
- Do not pick the leaves in batches to avoid mixing edible and toxic species.
- Do not consume its preparation in case of bitter taste
- Take a photo of your harvest before preparing the plants for secondary identification
“If there is any doubt about the identification of the plant after ingestion or if there are symptoms, particularly digestive symptoms, occurring in the hours following ingestion of a dish containing wild garlic or wild leek, contact the Poison Control Center quickly.”