Monterey County Health Department Reports that there's been an Increase in Hospitalizations in Monterey County Due to Mushroom Poisoning; Eating Wild Mushrooms May Cause Serious Illness and Death

The County of Monterey Health Department is reminding Monterey County residents to exercise caution when gathering and eating wild mushrooms. Local hospitals have recently reported an increase in illnesses resulting from eating poisonous wild mushrooms.

“Some poisonous wild mushrooms look and smell like edible types of mushrooms," states Dr. Edward Moreno, County of Monterey Health Officer. “Only people with extensive training and experience should eat wild mushrooms that they have picked themselves."

The term wild mushroom refers to mushrooms that are not cultivated by commercial growers. Wild mushrooms include many varieties of fungi that tend to grow in shady, moist, and humid environments. Some of the more common poisonous wild mushrooms include the varieties Amanita ocreata known as Death Angel, Amanita phalloides known as Death Cap, and Amanita muscaria known as Fly Amanita. These poisonous wild mushrooms grow in certain parts of California year-round but are most commonly found during the fall, late winter, and spring.

Eating poisonous mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea. Individuals who develop any of these symptoms after eating wild mushrooms should seek immediate medical attention. In some instances, consuming poisonous mushrooms can lead to liver damage and death. People with symptoms and their health care providers may contact California Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance on diagnosing and treating mushroom poisoning.

Local mycological societies offer educational resources about mushroom identification and may provide assistance to individuals who are interested in picking and eating wild mushrooms. For more information about mycological societies in California, please visit the North American Mycological Association’s website at http://www.namyco.org/clubs.php.

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