Vigilance urged over toxic wild mushrooms

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has strongly advised people not to eat wild mushrooms without the advice of an expert mushroom forager.

It called on parents to be vigilant in relation to children near wild mushrooms.

The warning coincides with the start of the foraging season, and an increase in inquiries to the National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland in relation to wild mushroom consumption.

In 2013, 19 cases of poisoning related to wild mushrooms were notified to the Centre, involving seven adults and 12 children. To date this year, 18 cases have been notified, involving seven adults and 11 children. All of the children had eaten wild mushrooms accidentally.

FSAI Director of Consumer Protection, Ray Ellard, said “the high number of cases involving children in particular points to the need for parents and guardians to be vigilant and to teach children not to eat wild mushrooms”.

“We’re advising parents and guardians to specifically watch children who may be playing in gardens or fields where wild mushrooms could be growing in case they accidentally eat a poisonous mushroom,” he said.

According to Mr Ellard, it is extremely difficult for amateur mushroom foragers to distinguish between safe and poisonous mushrooms growing in the wild.

“Given the serious health implications, we’re advising people to be aware of the risks involved and to seek specialist advice from an experienced mushroom forager if they plan to undertake this activity,” said Mr Ellard.

“In our opinion, websites and books showing visuals of mushrooms are not sufficient to identify safe mushrooms and we would not recommend people to solely rely on these to determine the safety of a wild mushroom.

“It is important to note that cooking does not kill the potentially toxic chemicals that can be found in some wild mushrooms. Eating a wild poisonous mushroom, raw or cooked, can result in people becoming very ill with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and, in some cases, it can result in liver failure.”

There are 14 native species of mushrooms growing in Ireland that can cause food poisoning. A further 13 species that are highly dangerous and can cause hepatic and renal toxicity and ultimately, can be life threatening.

Consumers with food safety queries about wild mushrooms can contact the FSAI Advice Line on 1890 33 66 77 or the Poisons Information Centre of Ireland on 01-8092166 or at www.poisons.ie