The mushroom picking season is still in its infancy and already there is the first case of intoxication, reported by the Provincial Health Authority (ASP) of Catania. (1) Attention is essential.
Drumstick or Chlorophyllum molybdites, poison makes all the difference
Edible mushrooms of the species Macrolepiota procera – drumstick (also known as ‘cappiddini’) can easily be confused with those of the different species Chlorophyllum molybdites, which is poisonous instead.
Chlorophyllum molybdites-found in America, Africa and other regions of the planet, in temperate and sub-tropical areas-is also widespread in Etna. And in Sicily itself, back in 2021, it had already caused two poisonings.
Poisonous mushrooms, the appeal of health institutions
Numerous mushroom poisonings occur every year-in Italy, as in other countries. With sometimes very serious, or lethal, consequences for consumers.
‘At the Poison Control Center‘ of Milan (ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda), from 1998 to 2019, 17,190 requests for counseling for mushroom poisoning were received. The actual number of cases is certainly higher, both because more diners are often involved and because not everyone turns to the Milan CAV‘, explains Francesca Assisi, a physician at the Milan Poison Control Center and author of the guide published by the Ministry of Health. (2)
Liver at risk
Symptoms related to poisonous mushroom intoxication are varied and of varying severity, as the following slides show.
In 20 cases during the indicated period, the liver of the intoxicated person suffered irreparable damage with the need for organ transplantation. In 44 other cases, the outcome of poisoning was death.
Experts become
The guarantee of edibility of self-collected mushrooms is offered free of charge. It is sufficient to submit the harvest for examination by a local health authority (ASL) mycologist.
In fact, only an experienced mycologist can distinguish between mushrooms that are often very similar in appearance but at polar opposites in toxicity. As the example below shows.
Pleasures and duties
It is useful to remember that mushroom picking is subject to rules and penalties. Law 352/1993 provides.
- A maximum collection limit of 3 kg per person,
- The prohibition of using rakes or other tools that could seriously damage the entire fungal production system,
- the requirement to collect the whole mushroom, detached from the mycelium in a rotary motion and not cut (to allow exact identification of the species),
- The prohibition of collecting specimens that are too young or in poor condition,
- transporting collected mushrooms in aerated containers (e.g., wicker basket) to allow spores to spread. The use of plastic bags is also prohibited because they accelerate the decomposition of mushrooms,
- A ban on damaging specimens that are considered poisonous. (3)
In addition to being a treat for the palate-to be consumed in moderation and not given to children or pregnant women-mushrooms are indispensable for the preservation of the ecosystem.
Never trust apps
Inexperienced mushroom pickers who believe they can rely on mushroom recognition apps should be very cautious. Never forgoing examination by a mycologist.
According to ANSES, the French Food Safety Agency, identifying a mushroom using an app presents‘a high risk of error.’ As the French consumer magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs reminds us in its guide to conscientious mushroom picking. (4)
In fact, the Champignoufapp warns,‘Be careful, the app is still under development and the results are not perfect, they will improve over time.’ Nothing, however, forewarns the Picture Mushroom app. But reliability does not change.
Notes
(1) Asp Catania, first mushroom poisoning, be careful. ANSA, 30.9.22 https://www.ansa.it/sicilia/notizie/2022/09/20/asp-catania-primo-avvelenamento-da-funghi-fare-attenzione_cfa8b095-4462-47e8-9935-0d2be07711f8.html
(2) Francesca Assisi. Mushrooms: a guide to preventing intoxication. https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_opuscoliPoster_149_allegato.pdf
(3) LAW Aug. 23, 1993, no. 352. Framework rules on the collection and marketing of fresh and preserved epigean mushrooms. Normative. https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1993-08-23;352
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
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