Giant Hogweed

In the popular reality television program Alone on the History Channel, competitors must fend for themselves in the wilderness in order to be eligible to win $500,000. It is ostensibly a battle to out-starve the opposition while attempting to escape being eaten by bears who are much more ravenous. One of the cast members got food sickness when season eight was being filmed after eating cow parsnip, a plant that is edible but poisonous if not properly cooked. Additionally, the leaf might be confused for the far more hazardous giant hogweed.

Heracleum mantegazzianum is a weed that can cause phytophotodermatitis, a serious skin inflammatory condition, just by being touched. This herbaceous flowering plant's sap is filled with harmful substances called photosensitizing furanocoumarins, which react with light when they come into contact with human skin. Within 48 hours, painful burning usually appears, and if sap gets into the eye, the reaction can cause blindness.

The expansion of the invasive species in both urban and rural parts of North America has made it a severe threat. It is best to avoid coming into contact with the plant's liquid sap unless you are wearing protective clothing, such as gloves, goggles, and jackets.