No, coconut is used extensively in cooking, though perhaps especially South-Asian cooking. The "poisonous" part is because coconut oil is mostly saturated fats.

No, coconut is used extensively in cooking, though perhaps especially South-Asian cooking. The "poisonous" part is because coconut oil is mostly saturated fats. Saturated fats have no adverse effects on the skin. The last decade it's been featured heavily as a healthy alternative oil to use in food — perhaps boosted by studies (I don't have a link at the moment, unfortunately) that seemed to show that the saturated fats in coconut oil were metabolized in a way that somehow didn't clog your arteries. Coconut oil also happens to have a high smoke point, so it can be used on high heat, which makes it a great oil for certain types of cooking. Oh, and pretty much all the popcorn in the US is made cooked with coconut oil; it's part of what makes the "theater popcorn smell".