Marks and Spencer has apologised for displaying spring onions and daffodils subsequent to one another, amid fears clients may mistakenly eat the toxic flowers.
A spokesman for the shop apologised for “any confusion brought on” over the format.
Botanist James Wong, who has labored for The Observer newspaper and the BBC, posted a picture of the greens and spring flowers displayed side-by-side.
He wrote on Twitter: “Daffodils are the one commonest reason behind plant-based poisoning as individuals mistake their bulbs (even minimize flower buds) for crops within the onion household.
“@marksandspencer I don’t wish to get any employees in hassle. However you want higher coaching asap.”
In response to Poison.org, the flowers – that are from the Narcissus household, include a poisonous chemical referred to as lycorine, which is very concentrated within the bulb.
The flowers on show on the M&S retailer, considered in Birmingham, didn’t seem to have bulbs nonetheless hooked up.
Poison.org continues: “Consuming any a part of the plant could cause signs reminiscent of nausea, vomiting, belly ache, and diarrhoea.
“These signs normally final about 3 hours. Extra extreme issues reminiscent of low blood strain, drowsiness, and harm to the liver have been reported in animals that ate very giant quantities of the plant however have by no means been reported in people.
“The bulb additionally comprises chemical compounds referred to as oxalates, that are microscopic and needle-like. When swallowed, oxalates trigger extreme burning and irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat. They will additionally trigger pores and skin irritation.”
Mr Wong added in a follow-up tweet: “I ought to remind individuals, this poisoning is [very] widespread and excruciating. Usually affecting youngsters, outdated individuals and immigrants.”
An M&S assertion to Birmingham Reside stated: “Buyer security is our precedence and our British daffodils are clearly labelled, with an on-pack warning that they don’t seem to be secure to eat.
“This was an error on the a part of one in all our retailer groups and we have now requested the shop to rectify. We apologise for any confusion brought on.”
It comes after a neighborhood council stated it wouldn’t plant any extra daffodils close to to a kids’s play park, as they’re poisonous.
And in a 2012 Well being Safety England (HPA) and Bristol Metropolis Council advised there ought to be “express labelling and positioning of daffodils, away from produce” after various members of town’s Chinese language neighborhood fell sick after by accident consuming them.
The celebration had bought pre-bloom daffodils, cooked and eaten them experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea round 12 hours after consumption.
Nevertheless, there have been no deaths or hospitalisations, the report, printed in Medical Toxicology stated.
