Every year, an increase in cases of mushroom poisoning is observed in the fall. Some would be linked to the use of recognition applications, which would not be reliable.
- Since July 1, 2023, more than 600 cases of mushroom poisoning have been reported to Poison Control Centers.
- Some species of mushrooms are toxic or even fatal to humans.
- It is particularly recommended to collect only mushrooms that you know perfectly, in order to prevent the risk of poisoning.
At the beginning of autumn, it is not uncommon to find people collecting mushrooms in the forest. However, it is better to be careful, because not all species are edible and some can even be toxic. In a statement published on October 13, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) announced that more than 600 cases of poisoning have been recorded since July 1, 2023. “Poisonings reported to Poison Control Centers are increasing”warned the organization.
A possible confusion between edible and toxic mushrooms
In 2022, two people died after mistaking an edible species for a toxic species of mushroom. Nearly 1,923 poisonings had been recorded. Nearly 74 young children consumed inedible wild mushrooms even though it is not recommended to give them. An 11-month-old infant suffered from severe hepatitis requiring a stay in intensive care.
Several factors can explain these poisonings. ANSES notably cited confusion between edible and toxic species or the consumption of edible mushrooms in poor condition, poorly preserved or insufficiently cooked. The organization also warned about recognition applications, available on smartphones, which sometimes provide incorrect identifications of picked mushrooms.
Mushroom season: how to harvest safely?
In a report broadcast on TF1, Martine Pialot, mountain guide, assessed the reliability of mushroom recognition applications. After scanning a mushroom, the app indicated that it was a Boletus pallidus. But is this really the case? “It has nothing to do with it! (…) Boletus, they are boletes, therefore with moss underneath. They are not strips”, indicated the specialist, specifying that this mushroom is an edible sucker. These applications can therefore easily make mistakes. The risk is to confuse an edible mushroom with a dangerous mushroom.
If you want to pick mushrooms, there are several good practices to prevent poisoning. It is recommended to only collect mushrooms that you know perfectly well, and, if in doubt, not to consume them before an inspection carried out by a pharmacist specializing in mycology or a mycology association. In its press release, ANSES also recalled that it is recommended to “do not consume mushrooms identified using a mushroom recognition application on a smartphone, due to the high risk of error.”
