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[-] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 8 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

It's poisonous BTW. German products with it are safe when consumed in reasonable quantities, but when you consume unreasonable quantities and the ingredient is subject to less strict food safety rules ...

[-] pirc_lover@feddit.uk 5 points 21 hours ago

The Wikipedia article seems to state otherwise: “Industrial usage of the plant for sweets was prohibited in Germany in 1974, due to coumarin, the flavorant found in woodruff, being toxic to rats and mice in studies. It has, however, not been found to be harmful to humans, even in large doses, in which it follows a different metabolic pathway.”

[-] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

It says this:

Humans metabolize it mainly to 7-hydroxycoumarin, a compound of lower toxicity, and no adverse effect has been directly measured in humans.

I'd say that "not directly measured" isn't quite the same as "it's not toxic". It's not like ethical research is just going to administer significant daily dosages of suspected toxins to human research subjects.

Granted, it's also not very conclusive and it's probably safe to stop worrying about it for now. The sugar in most products with waldmeister is clearly a bigger issue.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

There is no real Waldmeister in those or in other Waldmeister products. Its artificial or nature-like flavouring for many decades now, maybe half a century.

The special aromatics could be extracted from the plant with alcohol without risk of poisoning, therefore the Maibowle existed.

[-] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 17 hours ago

The relevant flavour compound is coumarin, which is exactly the compound that's supposed to be toxic.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

OK, that differs from what I learned. I'll look things up when I've got time.

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 20 hours ago

It's poisonous BTW.

Also a medicinal plant.

[-] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

basically everything both treats some sickness or kills you depending on dose

this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2026
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