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Deadly Wild Plants: Japan's Foraging Season Turns Fatal
6 May
Summary
- An elderly man died after mistaking toxic monkshood for edible nirinso.
- 17 people have died in Japan in the past decade from eating toxic plants.
- Autumn crocus is another deadly plant, often mistaken for edible varieties.
As Japan's wild vegetable foraging season commences, a series of food poisoning incidents linked to toxic plants have emerged. In Hokkaido, an elderly man recently passed away on April 1st after mistakenly consuming monkshood, believing it to be the edible nirinso. This incident followed a similar case in late March where a man in Aomori Prefecture fell critically ill from eating the same toxic plant.
These events underscore a grave danger, with 17 individuals having died from consuming poisonous plants in Japan over the last decade. Experts emphasize that even experienced foragers should exercise extreme caution. Monkshood, which can be fatal even in small quantities, is particularly dangerous as its leaves closely resemble those of the edible nirinso. Another significant threat is autumn crocus, responsible for 13 deaths in Hokkaido over 30 years, often mistaken for the edible gyoja ninniku.
The toxins in these plants are potent, with cooking doing little to neutralize them. Even a few leaves of monkshood or a small bulb of autumn crocus can be lethal. Health authorities advise extreme care when foraging, recommending picking only plants with identifiable white flowers, like nirinso, and being wary of suspicious-looking specimens. Vigilance extends to verifying wild plants received from others, including those sold online.
