"Monterey County Health Department officials sent out an alert on Monday, cautioning foragers to be careful when picking and eating wild mushrooms. "Some poisonous wild mushrooms look and smell like edible types of mushrooms," Dr. Edward Moreno, Monterey County's health officer, said in a statement. "Only people with extensive training and experience should eat wild mushrooms that they have picked themselves.""
"In January, three people arrived at the Salinas Valley Health Emergency Department with acute liver toxicity after eating death cap mushrooms they purchased from an unlicensed vendor in a grocery store parking lot. The death cap is the deadliest of all mushrooms and can be identified by its greenish-grey cap and white gills, along with a white sac at the bottom."
Hospitals in Monterey County report a rise in hospitalizations from people eating poisonous wild mushrooms and warn foragers to exercise caution when picking and eating wild mushrooms. Some poisonous species look and smell like edible varieties and only people with extensive training and experience should consume foraged mushrooms. Common poisonous types include the death cap, death angel and fly amanita; they grow year-round in California but are most common in fall, late winter and spring. In January, three people suffered acute liver toxicity after buying death cap mushrooms from an unlicensed vendor. Symptoms include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, liver damage and in rare cases death. Seek medical help immediately or call poison control at 800-222-1222 if ingestion is suspected.
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