White or brown spots on the leaves make some gardeners doubt whether the fruits are still edible. After all, powdery mildew is a fungus that sometimes leads to the death of the plant. While pets are completely unaware of the harmful coating, children also run the risk of eating infested leaves, since the downy mildew on the underside of the leaf often goes unnoticed. Here you can find out whether there is a health risk and what it is.
Mildew can be washed off in most cases
toxicity
Powdery mildew is not poisonous but should still be handled with care. You can eat fruit and herbs without hesitation, not least because you should generally wash the harvested vegetables well beforehand. Since there was a risk of significant losses in crop yields, many farmers also process plants affected by powdery mildew and sell them.
Consequences of an allergic reaction
However, you could possibly have an allergy to the fungus that causes powdery mildew. In this case, the following complaints can be expected:
- indigestion
- stomach pain
- breathing problems
- itching
- skin redness
Better to wear protective clothing
Allergy sufferers experience the body reactions mentioned above, especially after eating plants infected with powdery mildew. In addition, these also occur in a reduced form when substances from the fungus are inhaled. Therefore, always wear protective clothing such as a face mask and, above all, gloves when treating infested plants. The latter also protect against the fungus sticking to your fingers and later getting into the digestive tract.
biological control
If you want to fight powdery mildew, you should always prefer gentle household remedies to chemical fungicides. Although powdery mildew is not toxic, these pesticides pose an increased health risk. Fruit and vegetables in particular are often no longer suitable for consumption after spraying.