Organic buckwheat flour or bread causes toxic food poisoning in Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Organic buckwheat flour or bread containing this flour caused acute food poisoning in 18 people in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region between September 21st and October 11th. An investigation found that the buckwheat flour was contaminated with organic datura (jimsonweed) which is a naturally occurring weed that was probably harvested with the buckwheat. Datura is a wild, toxic plant that causes symptoms similar to those of atropine poisoning (dry mouth, dilated pupils, blurred vision, tachycardia [fast heart rate], agitation, confusion, spatial and temporal disorientation, hallucinations and incoherent speech). Travellers should discard any buckwheat they may have purchased in this region and time frame and seek medical care if they develop the symptoms of datura poisoning.