From Gerry Pugliese and Connie Bennett
Oops!
That’s the gist of what British celebrity Chef Anthony Anthony Worrall Thompson had to say about his dangerous, potentially life-threatening salad suggestion when interviewed for the August issue of Healthy and Organic Living magazine.
In the article, Thompson wrongly recommends using the plant henbane in salads, a dangerous recommendation, which we learned about thanks to the Associated Press.
Here’s the problem: Henbane is toxic, even in low doses. This "killer of hens" possesses psychoactive properties such as hallucinations and the feeling of flying.
Oh, and get this. In 1910, American physician Hawley Harvey Crippen used henbane to kill his wife!
But the not-so-good Dr. Crippen was caught and hanged in Pentonville Prison in London for his deadly deed with the plant.
He’s even "gone down in history as the first criminal to be captured with the aid of wireless communication," Wikipedia tells us.
The mortified celebrity chef now contritely admits to his grave error on the home page of his website:
"Please DO NOT seek out Henbane. I meant to identify the herb FAT HEN. (Emphasis added.)
"Henbane is poisonous and you should not consume it in any way.
"It is of course rather an embarrassing mix up but I am glad to say that there have been no reports of any casualties. Please do accept my sincere apologies."
So what greenery did Thompson mean to tell us to eat?
Well, the edible fat hen or fat-hen, Wikipedia tells us, is "a name for various plants with succulent or juicy leaves, often species that are used as a vegetable."
For instance, Smearwort can be eaten like asparagus, and poultices from the leaves have been used to heal chronic sores, roots have been treated coughs in sheep.
And white goosefoot’s leaves are high in protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Yikes! Talk about a deadly error!
We urge you to go for the edible, life-enhancing greens like Smearwort or goosefoot instead!