California officials warn foragers after person dies from poison mushroom | California
California officials are warning foragers after a poisoning outbreak linked to wild mushrooms that caused the death of one adult and severe liver damage in scores of patients, including children.
The state poison control system detected 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. Poisonous wild mushrooms are often confused with edible mushrooms due to their appearance and taste.
“Death mushrooms contain potentially fatal toxins that can lead to liver failure,” Erica Pan, director of California’s public health department, said in a statement. “We advise the public not to seek out wild mushrooms during this high-risk season, as the lethal limit can easily be confused with safe edible mushrooms.”
One adult died and many patients required intensive care, at least one of whom may need a liver transplant.
Wet weather accelerates the growth of dead cap mushrooms, and authorities warn against wild mushroom picking to avoid confusion. Residents in central California’s Monterey County became ill after eating mushrooms found in a local park, according to county health officials. Another cluster of cases was in the San Francisco Bay Area, but state health officials warned the risk was everywhere.
More than 4,500 cases of exposure to unidentified fungi were recorded in U.S. Poison Centers in 2023, according to the National Poison Data System annual report. About half of those warned by experts that they could pick and eat mushrooms while playing outside were young children.
California’s poison control system sees hundreds of cases of wild mushroom poisoning each year. Death mushroom and destructive angel mushroom look and taste similar to edible mushrooms, so experts warn that a mushroom’s color is not a reliable way to detect its toxicity. And it doesn’t matter whether it is eaten raw or cooked.
People may experience stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting within 24 hours after eating a poisonous mushroom. Although gastrointestinal symptoms may improve, health officials warn that patients may develop serious complications, including subsequent liver damage.
People seeking guidance on diagnosing or treating mushroom poisoning can call the poison control hotline at (800) 222-1222.
