[garettmd]

At least in the US, people routinely spray dandelions with weed killer. So an argument could be made in favor of telling kids - especially in a classroom setting - where you'd rather err on the side of keeping kids from picking dandelions from any yard they pass by, and eating them.

[A4ET8a8uTh0]

Sadly, this is accurate. I am comfortable picking those up in my yard, but I would hesitate to pick those anywhere else.

[WillAdams]

There was a time in my life when I was all-but homeless, and pretty much penniless, despite having two jobs --- the only reason I didn't get exposed to Round-up on at least one occasion was because I was careful to blanch the dandelions I was planning on eating by placing a heavy stone on them for a day or two or three --- this goes a long way to make them less bitter in taste.

[yamtaddle]

Yeah we tell our kids about edible plants like dandelions, but caution them to basically never actually eat any they find.

Really, just saying "they're poisonous" would be quicker and the outcome wouldn't be all that different. They do have to be treated as poisonous, kinda, in urban and suburban settings.