Summary
Officials in California are warning against picking wild mushrooms due to a rise in poisoning cases from death cap mushrooms. These poisonous mushrooms have caused severe liver damage and resulted in at least one death.
Key Facts
- The California Department of Public Health reported 21 cases of poisonings from death cap mushrooms.
- The poisonings caused severe liver damage in some cases, and one person may need a liver transplant.
- Death cap mushrooms are often mistaken for safe mushrooms because they look and taste similar.
- The poisonings occurred during the rainy season, from mid-November to early December, in Northern California.
- Most cases appeared in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas, but the risk is present throughout the state.
- Death cap mushrooms contain toxins that can lead to liver failure and are not safe to eat under any preparation.
- Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and liver damage can occur days after eating the mushrooms.
- Dr. Erica Pan advises the public to avoid foraging for wild mushrooms during this high-risk season.
