Like other buttercups meadow buttercup is poisonous. All parts of the plant contain a bitter tasting oil that can cause irritation or blistering of the skin, vomiting and abdominal pains when consumed by humans. When eaten by animals, the buttercups have caused diarrhea and blindness. However, cattle usually leave the poisonous plant alone.
Meadow buttercup contains the glycoside ranunculin from which the poisonous principle protoanemonin is released when the plant is crushed.
Protoanemonin is volatile and can be given off when handling the plant leading to eye and nasal irritation. So be careful when weeding out this plant. The acrid taste of meadow buttercups seems to be sufficient deterrent, as there have been only a few cases of serious poisoning. The toxins can be destroyed by heat or drying.