‘Unprecedented’ spate of toxic mushroom illnesses jar California | California

A wet winter in California led to a proliferation of wild mushrooms; a mushroom explosion that typically causes foragers to cheer. But a much more dangerous fungus called death cap, also known as Amanita phalloides among chanterelles and porcinis, is causing alarm.

The state health department, between late November 2025 and early February 2026, four deaths and 40 hospitalizations An outbreak the ministry describes as “unprecedented” is linked to the consumption of dangerous mushrooms. This is generally well above the state average. sees less than five Cases of mushroom poisoning every year.

People who fell ill include: seasonal agricultural worker A couple from Oaxaca, Mexico, aged between 19 months and 67 years, According to Associated Press. Many people required liver transplants.

Rudy Diaz, resident mycologist for the Los Angeles Mycological Society, said the diseases are making the public nervous. While he was looking at mushrooms on the side of the road with a friend last month, a stranger scolded him for “doing something risky” and told him he should know that people had recently been poisoned by mushrooms.

Beginning mushroom pickers may have trouble identifying species, Diaz says, but there’s no need to panic among mushroom enthusiasts. Finding mushrooms in Southern California requires keen eyesight and some understanding of the terrain, so foragers are more educated; That’s why he thinks there are fewer poisoning cases. “People who find mushrooms already have some knowledge of the local ecology,” he said.

Still, it is important for the public to pay attention. Jess Starwood, an herbalist, forager and educator who teaches about wild plants in Southern California and Arizona, says people should always be more careful when picking mushrooms they intend to consume. “As more people become familiar with mushrooms through media and popular culture, mushrooms are no longer feared,” he says, which brings challenges and benefits.

Mushrooms are similar to other common types of mushrooms, such as mushroom balls. They typically grow up to 6 inches wide and 6 inches tall and have a greenish-gray cap and white gills. “Dead mushrooms can look very similar to edible species in the same family, and novice foragers can easily make mistakes,” adds Starwood. “In the past, these deadly fungi were not as common as they are now, which increases the risk of misidentification of them.”

Eating half a cap or less can be enough to kill a person; Mortality rates after ingestion can be as high as 50%. He adds that dog owners should also be careful about mushrooms, as mushrooms are also deadly for dogs.

The epicenter of the first 35 events was the central Californian coast town of Salinas, which has a large population from central Mexico, where there is a strong mushroom-foraging culture. Diaz speculates that people probably confused the lethal cape with one of the edible Amanita species they were familiar with in their home country. Although most residents of the region speak Spanish, the epidemic has also affected people who speak English, Mandarin, Mixteco, Russian and Ukrainian. As a result, the state’s public health department has released a new brochure with a QR code sharing poisonous mushroom recommendations. nine languages.

Climate change is also increasing the likelihood of lesser-known fungal species appearing in rare places. Starwood says wet winters mean many more mushrooms, and often atypical species appear in areas where they hadn’t appeared before. This may mean that death caps appear in new areas where other edible mushrooms have been collected for years. Western destroying angel mushroom (Amanita ocreata) is also highly poisonous and is common in coastal areas of California through April.

Kill limit season is now over in southern California but continues in northern California. Experts recommend that inexperienced mushroom hunters seek out a local mycological society or foraging group to gain firsthand information from experienced local experts on how to safely eat wild mushrooms.

“It took me a few years to gain the confidence to eat California’s edible Amanita species,” Diaz said.

The government health agency also advises people to buy mushrooms only from reputable grocery stores. Death cap mushrooms are still poisonous even after cooking, boiling, freezing or drying. They also say that if someone suspects poisoning, they should seek help immediately. Symptoms may include stomach pain, cramping, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. More serious damage to the liver occurs within a few days.

Starwood adds that trusting an app can be dangerous because they are known to make mistakes. “Going with an experienced guide who can provide hands-on training in the field is the best resource,” he says. “If you’re not sure, don’t eat it.”