Illinois Poison Center

06/03/2026

Food poisoning cases spike in the summer. There is a reason why public places have signs to wash your hands everywhere.

There’s a reason most public spaces have big, bold, “Thank You for Washing Your Hands” signs.

06/02/2026

To***co products in look alike packaging to common candy products.
What could go wrong?

"No to***co product should look like candy—it’s a blatant ploy to target children and mask the true nature of these products," said an FDA official.

06/01/2026

Trader Joe's Sugar Free Gummies - the tasty laxative no one was expecting.

Trader Joe's has a new candy product that's grabbing attention for being an unexpected laxative. Here's what to know.

05/29/2026

As we come into summer mosquito season, here are some tips of safe use of insect repellants.

05/28/2026

It will be interesting if the comprehensive tox screens of the first responders are published. 'Narcotics' that respond to naloxone do not coughing, vomiting and dizziness upon exposure.

If the tox results are positive, MMWR would be a good place for publication to increase awareness/knowledge in public health and medicine.

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. (AP) — Investigators in New Mexico are trying to identify a mysterious substance that may have contributed to the deaths of three people and led to more than a dozen first responders being briefly quarantined.

05/27/2026

Jimson W**d, Angels Trumpet are just a few of the names for Datura stramonium. It is a poisonous plant that causes anticholinergic toxicity if consumed. It grows in all 102 counties in Illinois.

Watch out for Jimson W**d, a toxic plant thriving across Illinois. Its poisonous seeds can be fatal, especially to kids, so it’s crucial to know what to look for.

05/26/2026

Children's toy found to have asbestos in the sand. If inhaled, asbestos can cause chronic lung inflammation and cellular damage. Long term, severe cases have an increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. If you purchased this toy in the past 16 months, check the date code in the article.

The Orb Factory recalled more than 121,000 squeeze toys nationwide after tests found fibrous tremolite, a form of asbestos, inside the products.

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

As the weather warms, snakes leave their dormant state and become more active. Memorial day is the unofficial start of snake bite season for the IPC. Read our latest blog for the venomous snakes and their locations in Illinois.

https://ipcblog.org/2026/05/18/snakes-you-cant-rattle-what-you-dont-have/

05/21/2026

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is caused by saxitoxin. Cooking the shellfish does not inactivate the toxin. Wild California mussels are quarantined from harvesting from May though October due the the toxin.

Deadly toxins accumulating in Northern California's coastal mussels and shellfish will not break down in the pot or any amount of cooking.