Poinsettia Poisoning Is Mostly Myth

The belief that poinsettias are deadly poisonous is largely an urban legend fueled by false stories and reporting. It began with a 1919 tale claiming that a 2-year-old child died after eating one leaf, while a 1970 US Food and Drug Administration newsletter wrongly warned that a single leaf could kill a child. Researchers later failed to establish a poisonous dose in rats even after administering the equivalent of 500 leaves, or nearly 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of sap. Poinsettias can still cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or skin irritation, but a review of more than 20,000 poison-control calls recorded no deaths.

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