The Universal Edibility Test

You've been wandering a bushy forest for ages now, half-convinced that you've been wandering in circles this whole time. You're exhausted and hungry but have went through your last can of corn during the last rotation through this never-ending forest trail. You see green leaves and bright berries all around, tempting you with their delicious, sweet, juices. But you're apprehensive. Luckily you've read My Survival Forum and know of the Universal Edibility Test (UET) that is sure to get you out of this bind. We've compiled a vague over-view of the testing steps here.



Step 1: Categorize the Individual Plant

The first step of the UET consists of dividing the specific plant into separate components, including buds, roots, stems, flowers, leaves and roots. This division is important because many plants are composed of parts that are poisonous to humans, while other parts of them are completely safe. Be sure that your sample is free of insects and decomposition. A fresh sample will yield the best results.



Step2: Perform a Contact Test

A good rule of thumb is that if a substance provokes a reaction via skin contact, it will more than likely provoke a reaction if ingested. Rub one part of the plant onto your skin for at least fifteen minutes and then observe if, within eight hours, you see any reaction. To avoid any confusion, don't eat anything during the eight hours while you are testing the plant. If you observe any signs of reaction (such as redness or welts), then you know that this part of the plant would not be wise to ingest.



Step 3: Increase Exposure by Cooking

Once your potential food has passed the contact test, the next step is to increase your exposure to the plant in question. Generally, this would involve preparing the plant, as you would, had you not been testing it. If you had planned to eat it raw, it is fine to test it like this as well. Hold the plant part to your mouth/lips for at least three minutes. If you feel any type of reaction (such as a burning, tingling or redness), consider that plant piece a danger and repeat the test, from step two, with a different part of the plant.



Step 4: Increase Exposure by Tasting

If there was no reaction during the cooking (or raw) testing phase, carry on to the taste-test phase. Put the plant part on your tongue for fifteen minutes. If the plant tastes gross, that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad for you. You are testing for an adverse reaction like burning or tingling specifically. If this occurs, immediately discard the plant.

Step 5: Increase Exposure by Chewing and Eating

Once your plant portion has passed the fifteen-minute taste test, continue testing it in the same manner by thoroughly chewing it for fifteen minutes. If you manage to chew the plant for the full fifteen minutes without any adverse reactions, it is now time to swallow. Once you've actually ingested the plant avoid all other food for eight hours (water is okay, however). For caution's sake, if you feel sick to your stomach immediately induce vomiting.





The UET is an extremely time-consuming test, but the minutes could mean the difference between a life or death situation.