Mike..... writes
Following up to Nick Maclaren

Firstly, it affects only some people, and few people are seriously
affected.

assuming wild and cultivated have the same effect I suspect that isnt
true:-

"http://128.104.239.6/uw_weeds/extension/articles/wildparsnip.htm"

That's a big assumption to make here. The article refers to 'wild
parsnip' which is becoming a noxious weed in Wisconsin. Before jumping
to conclusions about cultivated parsnip, I would want to know the
species concerned (which on a quick skim read didn't seem to be in the
article), and that it was indeed the ancestor of the cultivated parsnip
(wild garlic is not te ancestor of cultivated garlic).
--
Kay