I've always thought that laurel was poisonous. Indeed (following a link given by paul for something else) Marc Bonfils states "Walnut, laurel, pink laurel, goldenchain laburnum, cytlsus scoparius (scotch broom), yew & box leaves are very -poisonous for animals ( and humans)." http://permaculturefrance.org/fr/content/article/fodder-trees-temperate-climate-marc-bonfils
However, my goats just can't seem to get enough of laurel. They have free-range over 12 acres and they chose to spend all their time eating the laurel trees leaves and bark - have even climbed into it - and have eaten all the cytisus and its bark such that I don't think it will grow this year. They've been doing this for 2 months now and they seem quite well. Is it one of those myths like false acacia? or will they die?
Depending on your location, different things are called Laurel. I am familiar with "mountain laurel" that smells like grape bubble gum when it blooms, but a neighbor has a weird looking thing that makes a tiny plum like fruit, and he calls it laurel.
Bay Laurel (aka 'noble larel' aka bay leaf) is a rather nice addition to soups and stews. But like Alice said, many different plants are called laurel, and some are poisonous.
Since you are in France you naturally have the European laurel which is much, Much milder that the California bay laurel which is so strong that if you crush a leaf and inhale it nearly knocks you on your butt. Paul's link was probably referring to the US variety.
The leaves of English Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus are used by bug collectors in their killing jars, so I guess they must be pretty toxic. I think they give off some sort of cyanide, but I'm not sure if that's what does the killing or if it's a combination of different chemicals.
