Spring Mushroom Blooms
Spring is the season of fungus among us, and we are getting an increasing number of calls about mushroom mix ups and accidental mushroom ingestions.
Thankfully, most mushroom calls don’t result in anything more serious than an upset stomach. Many calls are about young kids who take a small bite of a backyard shroom, and they typically don’t eat enough to get very sick (but it’s always best to call us to check!).
You may have seen recent news that our neighbors in California are reporting an unprecedented surge in serious poisonings linked to mushroom foraging. Many of these cases involve death cap mushrooms, which also grow in Washington. Over forty people have become hospitalized after mixing up edible mushrooms with toxic varieties.
As mushroom season ramps up in Washington, we encourage you to never eat a wild mushroom unless it has been positively identified by a qualified expert. If you plan to forage, consider the following safety tips.
Photo from Puget Sound Mycological Society
In order to be edible, mushrooms must be:
Identified with certainty
Many mushrooms look similar and can be difficult to tell apart. Do not only rely on local field guides or online forums for identification. It’s best to learn to identify mushrooms with local experts providing field experience and guidance.
Found in a healthy environment
Mushrooms can absorb herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals. Avoid gathering in areas that are sprayed, near roads, or industrial areas.
Fresh
Rotten or damaged mushrooms should not be eaten. Do not store your mushrooms in plastic bags or wrap. Keep them cool, and store them in paper bags.
Cooked
Heat makes some mushrooms more digestible by reducing the potency of some toxins. Some mushroom poisons, however, are not destroyed by cooking.
Eaten in reasonable quantities
Some mushrooms are safe to eat in small portions, but are troublesome when overeaten. Start small before increasing quantities, do not mix species, and do not overindulge.
Eaten by healthy adults
Children, older adults, and people who are already ill may be sickened by mushrooms that are edible by others.
Only try ONE type of foraged mushroom at a time!
Amanita muscaria (Fly agaric) in our parking lot!
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- In severe cases, seizures, kidney and liver failure
If you feel sick after eating mushrooms, we are here to help, 24/7. Quick guidance can make all the difference, and it’s always better to check than guess.
Call us at 1-800-222-1222, text us at 206-526-2121, or live chat on our website. Bonus: send us a pic of the mushroom(s) in question via text or online chat!
Call 911 if someone is having difficulty breathing, swells in or around their mouth or face, or loses consciousness.
This alert was developed in partnership with the Puget Sound Mycological Society