Can mistletoe be lethal?

Here's a holiday tip some readers may have heard about: Don't eat the mistletoe! Actually, that tip should be geared toward your children, but the context still stands. Have you ever seen one of those fliers that warn to keep it out of reach of kids and pets? This idea is where it came from.

The thinking was that mistletoe was toxic and could be deadly if ingested. Pretty scary proposition if you host holiday parties with lots of decorations. So is it true?

Actually, some good news is that mistletoe is not lethal. The claims were not unfounded, however, because mistletoe does contain viscotoxins. Those bad boys can cause an upset stomach or even a slowed heartbeat (watch out for the berries). So don't go mixing in mistletoe with a seasonal stew, but should someone you know accidentally eat it, don't panic! Just call your nearest poison control center.