Raw Celery Is Burning Kids' Mouths

Sometimes it can be really hard to get kids to eat vegetables. They might whine about not liking the taste or the texture of the produce, but when it comes to celery, there is a whole other reason they may not want to eat it - because it can seriously injure them.

One mom is warning other parents about the danger of celery after her daughter was painfully burned by a stalk she was eating. It happened during a backyard barbecue, where Reanna Bendzak gave her teething seven-month-old a piece of celery to chew on to help sooth her gums. She had it for ten minutes, during which her parents would clean her mouth with a cloth. Well even though the little girl was covered in clothes protecting her from the sun, the next day she woke up with a burn around her mouth that got worse as time went on. In fact, they were second degree burns.

Confused, her parents took her to a doctor who diagnosed her with phytophotodermatitis, a reaction that happens when the skin comes into contact with the sap or juice of certain plants, like celery, that have been exposed to the sunlight. It's caused by a compound called furanocoumarins, which reacts with ultraviolet rays and causes an intense skin reaction.

The common term for it is a margarita burn, since it can also be caused by citrus fruits like limes and occasionally happens to anyone who drinks a margarita that has been left in the sun. It also happens with carrots, peppers, dill, figs, parsley, parsnips and more. The burns aren't allergic reactions either since they do not become visible for at least 24 hours after exposure to the sun.

Bendzak shared her story on social media with the hope that it brings awareness to other parents who might not know something like this can even happen. So how can it be prevented? Wash your skin with soap and water any time you've handled food or drinks while out in the sun. Of course, if you notice any changes to your skin, you should contact a healthcare professional.