California officials warn against foraging wild mushrooms after deadly poisoning outbreak
apnews.com
California officials are warning foragers about a deadly outbreak linked to wild mushrooms. The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely from death cap mushrooms.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/39826218

California officials are warning foragers after an outbreak of poisoning linked to wild mushrooms that has killed one adult and caused severe liver damage in several patients, including children.

The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. The toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste.

“Death cap mushrooms contain potentially deadly toxins that can lead to liver failure,” Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “Because the death cap can easily be mistaken for edible safe mushrooms, we advise the public not to forage for wild mushrooms at all during this high-risk season.”

  • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
    10·
    4 days ago

    we advise the public not to forage for wild mushrooms at all

    This is what I always do, exactly for the reasons layed out.

    I once got confident enough to trust myself with a handful of species. My father taught me, and I’d maintain that a book alone just isn’t enough, you need a person who lives in those parts. But then I moved to a different country and they all look slightly different here and I’m basically back to zero.