Tag: Sweet pea toxicity

Despite their appealing name and beautiful, fragrant flowers, ornamental sweet peas are not safe for human consumption. All parts of the ornamental sweet pea plant (Lathyrus odoratus), especially the seeds, are toxic to humans and animals. The confusion often arises because they are not the same as the edible green peas (Pisum sativum) found in vegetable gardens and grocery stores.

According to gardening experts, the vibrant, fragrant sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) that produces beautiful flowers is not for consumption. The critical question, "Can you eat sweet pea shells?" demands a serious answer: ornamental sweet pea pods are poisonous and should never be eaten.

Peas have been cultivated for thousands of years, and while many varieties exist, not all pea pods are edible. Knowing which pea pods are edible is crucial for home gardeners and cooks alike, as some, like the ornamental sweet pea, are poisonous. This guide will help you distinguish safe, tender pods from inedible, fibrous ones.

According to gardening experts, ornamental sweet pea pods are mildly poisonous and contain toxins called lathyrogens. If you eat sweet pea pods from these fragrant flowers, you won't suffer acute poisoning from a single, accidental ingestion, but consuming large quantities over time can lead to a serious neurological condition called lathyrism.

Approximately 4,000 to 5,000 cases of lathyrism have been recorded in Ethiopia between 1976 and 1996, linked to the overconsumption of grass pea, a close relative of the ornamental sweet pea. When it comes to the question of what does sweet pea do to the body, it is crucial to distinguish between the ornamental flowering plant and the edible garden pea due to significant health implications.

The vibrant and fragrant ornamental sweet pea, known botanically as *Lathyrus odoratus*, is not a harmless garden vegetable, but a toxic plant with poisonous seeds. Many people mistake this flowering climber for its edible cousin, the garden pea, putting themselves at risk of adverse health effects, particularly if large quantities are consumed over time.