Botanists have warned that people may accidentally consume toxic flowers as they struggle to identify edible ones
Warning comes as the supermarket Sainsbury’s launches an edible-flower range
Food writer Ella Mills has previously been criticised by a botanist after posting a photo of her wedding cake covered in ‘edible’ flowers
They’re championed by ‘wellness’ gurus – including food blogger Ella Mills, who famously had them on her wedding cake.
But botanists are warning that the foodie fad for ‘edible’ flowers could lead to people accidentally poisoning themselves as they struggle to identify the plants.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), said: ‘I think there is a risk that there are some plants that are potentially harmful.
Botanists are warning that the foodie fad for ‘edible’ flowers could lead to people accidentally poisoning themselves as they struggle to identify the plants
‘It is very important to get your facts right and, if in doubt, leave it to the professionals.’
Ian Denholm, of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, agreed, telling the paper that he thought the majority of people would struggle to identify poisonous from edible flowers.
In an information page published on the RHS website, consumers are warned that ‘accurate identification of flowers is essential’.
‘Generally, only the petals are used, so discard stamens, pistil and calyx of large flowers like hollyhocks, roses, lilies and hibiscus,’ the society warns.
Last month, food writer Ms Mills – who blogs under the name Deliciously Ella – and TV botanist James Wong clashed on Twitter after he suggested her wedding cake (pictured) was covered with poisonous flowers
‘The bitter ‘heel’ at the base of the petal should be removed.’
The warnings come as the UK’s second-largest supermarket chain Sainsbury’s launches a new edible-flower range – which includes tagete marigold, monkey flowers, viola and dianthus.
The flowers, which went on sale on June 30, are sold in punnets costing £3.
Vanessa Rider, Sainsbury’s Buyer for Edible Flowers, said: ‘I’m really pleased to announce the launch of our edible flowers range especially during British Flower Week.
‘It’s great to see the first colourful buds going into our edible selection and onto our shelves in the coming weeks – I’m confident customers will love the instant summer glamour that they will add to their dishes.’
Last month, food writer Ms Mills – who blogs under the name Deliciously Ella – and TV botanist James Wong clashed on Twitter after he suggested her wedding cake was covered with poisonous flowers.
Mr Wong, 36, a Kew Gardens-trained botanist, shared a picture of Ella’s gluten-free wedding cake on Twitter when her social media account re-posted the image to mark the deli owner and cookbook author’s 26th birthday.
He wrote above the image: ‘I’m sure wellness bloggers are nice, well-meaning people, but those are highly toxic Plumeria flowers on that cake.’
Ella replied with a link to an online guide to edible flowers with the message: ‘The flowers are edible – the rest of the plant and the sap isn’t, but we wouldn’t use that in a cake.’
The website she linked to, mail order seed company Thompson & Morgan, says of the Plumeria’s flowers: ‘Blooms may be used raw in salads, steeped into a tea, fried, or as an ingredient in making sweets.’
Source: Daily Mail
