Berry identification urgent !!!

[Force690]

My sister has just messaged me. Her two boys have been picking and eating berries of a bush with thorns. Had a look and I don't know what it is. Can anyone please help?

[Green Aura]

Sorry for the delay in answering. I'm afraid it's difficult to identify but it might be worth calling the poisons unit to see if they can help. I'm not suggesting the berries are poisonous but it is definitely not worth the risk.

[Odsox]

That is a Berberis Vulgaris and I'm pretty sure all Berberis berries are not toxic. I can only really comment on the purple berried one (Berberis Darwinii) I used to have, and those are sweet but rather bland to eat.
According to Wikipedia the red ones are "tart, refreshing and full of vitimin C

[PurpleMcGowan]

Yes its berberis, my neighbour has it

[Weedo]

Hi
I tend towards OS's identification although the pics are a little vague for a couple of points.
I went to my records for toxic plants in ornamental horticulture (Australian information so not absolute for that little island off the French coast)
1/ My references note all Berberis species should be treated with caution
2/ B. aquifolium (purple to black fruit are definitely poisonous)
3/ B. vulgaris is not rated as toxic WHEN RIPE but may have some toxins (as with all Berberis spp) when immature.

I can't find a toxicity reference for B. darwinii or any synonyms OdSox but that may be because of its very limited occurence here - essentially restricted to Melbourne urban and Tasmania.