You’ve probably heard the rumor that bay leaves are toxic. Let’s bust that right now. They are not poisonous. The myth likely comes from the fact that some plants in the laurel family are toxic, but the Laurus nobilis (the common culinary bay leaf) is perfectly safe.
However, there’s a tiny asterisk here. If you eat a whole lot of them—like, a handful—you might get an upset stomach. But who eats a handful of bay leaves? That’s a weird party trick, not a meal.
So, no, you won’t keel over. You’ll just be uncomfortable. And frankly, a little weirded out by your own life choices.
