This research examined the safety of dandelion plants collected from different locations in Poland, focusing on both chemical pollutants and biological contaminants. While the plants were found to be remarkably free of chemical pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides, they harbored numerous harmful bacteria and parasites, especially in urban areas. This has important implications for people who collect and consume dandelions. Impacts on everyday life: – People collecting dandelions for food or medicine should be especially careful about thorough washing of plants – Urban foraging carries higher risks of contamination than collecting from rural areas – Heat treatment (cooking, making tea) is safer than consuming raw dandelion leaves – Pet owners should be particularly cautious when collecting plants from areas frequented by animals – The findings support the safety of dandelion in terms of chemical pollutants but highlight biological contamination risks