Death by Bay Leaf

Does your significant other cook with Bay leaves? Its amazing you're alive. Holy Crap. Just another bloody statistic. Do you know how many millions of people die every year from their esophagus being sliced ; bleeding to death by Bay leaves? Either do I, but that's not the point, is it. Ever since our Mothers enhanced our stews, soups, roasts with the gourmet Bay leaf we were warned, "don't eat the bay leaf". As an innocent young man I accepted my Mother's answer that instant death came. Next time you see the Ambulance flashing lights down your street and you're thinking, heart attack, domestic, alcohol poisoning, now add BLT [bay leaf tragedy]. What an enormous power this laurel tree has to produce Bay leaves for cooking. On one hand they add flavour & fragrance to our dishes but if swallowed are fatal. I always pondered well eating my delicious stew wouldn't the flavour from the leaf also be lethal? No, it isn't so much the composition of the Leaf but the texture of its outer leaf edge. The fear was that if caught in your throat it could apparently damage the esophagus. If your esophagus is like elephant skin, an inch thick, you most likely have nothing to fear, however if your esophagus is fragile like a rose pedal..MY GOD ... don't eat stew. I'm only surprised we haven't any "Slayers Against Evil" petition to have legislation passed. It is now law all home owners are required to post in their kitchens signs to all who enter "area contain bay leaves". The truth of the matter is choking on bay leaf is more likely. Although i have never digested a bay leaf, i understand they are pungent. As you carve your spoon into your steaming stew and the creator reveals to the table, "I think I removed all the bay leaves". Have some fun. Place contents of your dinner all over the table setting like a car mechanic in his garage. The guests love this one.