Turnip leaves, radish leaves and some others have the same sort of "stinging hairs" as nettles do, and when eaten raw can have an unpleasant effect. It is not a toxic situation, but as with many things, people react differently. Cooking or blanching the leaves will negate this effect, if you must eat them. The hairs on zucchini and cucumber leaves are two that I react badly to.

Steve

I have to wonder if there is a possibility that he (or the leaves) could have come in contact with a poison, which was then consumed. The description of the symptoms, though, sounds more like an allergic reaction. In either case, it would not be wise to repeat the experience.

I'm curious as to why he would decide to put something as bristly and uncomfortable as a turnip leaf into his mouth ;-) They are not pleasant even to touch. Regarding the comparison with stinging nettles. AFAIK turnips, radishes etc. just have stiff hairs on the leaves which would cause a physical scratching to tender lips and tongue. Nettles on the other hand have very specialised stinging hairs the tips of which break off on contact and inject histamine and acetylcholine into the skin.

Just remember that everybody is different and you can develop an allergy at any time. Your husband could have eaten something his entire life and one day he no longer can. If it is a true allergy he should stay away as much as possible, or his next encounter might be his last. From what it sounds like he could have been just moments away from anaphylaxis and that needs to be taken very seriously.

I eat them raw while I'm in the garden very often and I have never had a reaction.

But as stated above, it could happen!

"I'm curious as to why he would decide to put something as bristly and uncomfortable as a turnip leaf into his mouth ;-)"

Floral, They aren't bristly and uncomfortable when they are young leaves! ;)

It is definitely possible to be allergic to something when it is raw and not be allergic to it when it is cooked, so he may well be allergic. The allergen in question gets denatured in the cooking process and then it is safe to eat. For instance, I've been eating cooked kale for years but ended up going into anaphylactic shock after eating my first kale salad. (That wasn't my first rodeo so I had an Epipen with me). If your husband has allergies to different pollens, then he's much more likely to develop these kinds of reactions. Look into oral allergy syndrome and you might find that he reacts to many of the fruits and vegetables that are known triggers of this.

Depending on the severity of these reactions, he might want to visit an allergist and think about getting shots. If it's just one or two vegetables, then it's probably not worth it but if he starts reacting to just about everything, then shots for all the trees, grasses, and "weeds" can help.

wertach - I only know the ones I grow which are bristly from babies. But there's no tradition of eating turnip greens here so maybe we haven't bred cultivars for smoother leaves since they just get thrown on the compost.

Floral, you are missing some good food over there, way across the big pond! ;)

Mine do have bristles when young but they are soft.

Floral, you're not missing out on anything lol...

"Floral, you're not missing out on anything lol..."

From NJ! I expected that! LOL

It's a "must have" down here in the southern states!