ätliga

ätlig is a Swedish adjective meaning edible or fit for human consumption. The form ätliga is used when describing plural nouns, such as ätliga växter (edible plants) or ätliga svampar (edible mushrooms). The term is commonly used in botany, foraging, cooking and food guidance to indicate that something can be eaten safely under normal preparation and consumption. It is distinct from terms that denote non-edibility or toxicity, such as giftig (poisonous).

In practice, ätlig can apply to cultivated foods, wild foods and processed products. It covers not only the idea that something does not cause poisoning, but that it is appropriate for eating in typical culinary contexts. However, edibility does not guarantee universal safety for everyone: individual allergies, intolerances, and medical conditions can affect whether a person should eat a particular item. Some edible species or parts may require proper preparation, cooking, or specific seasonal timing, while others can be toxic if misidentified or consumed raw.

Foraging for wild edibles highlights the importance of correct identification, as many edible-looking organisms have poisonous look-alikes. Local regulations and expert guidance are important when collecting wild resources. Etymologically, ätlig derives from the verb äta (to eat), with the -lig suffix forming the adjective, and it is used across everyday language and scientific contexts to denote suitability for consumption.