The National Public Health Agency (ANSP) has published relevant information, warning of the dangers of consuming mushrooms picked by oneself or purchased from unauthorised sources.
Main risk factors
Experts identify the main causes of poisoning as picking mushrooms without sufficient knowledge of their species, purchasing them from unauthorised sellers or street vendors along roadsides, and incorrect or insufficient cooking at home.
It is important to remember that there are no reliable traditional methods for testing for toxicity; therefore, the only safe approach is to collect only those mushrooms that you are absolutely certain are edible. If you have the slightest doubt, it is best to leave the mushroom in the forest.
Children are particularly vulnerable, so the ANSP urges parents to keep a close eye on them whilst out walking in woods, parks and other areas to prevent them from accidentally eating mushrooms.
Symptoms of poisoning may appear either immediately after eating or several hours later. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive sweating, weakness, headache and dizziness. In severe cases, loss of consciousness, hallucinations and coma may occur.
How to avoid poisoning
Experts recommend buying mushrooms only from authorised sellers and not consuming any species you are not completely certain about. You should not pick old, spoiled or worm-eaten mushrooms, nor those growing near rubbish tips, busy roads or areas treated with pesticides.
Furthermore, it is not recommended to use plastic bags, sacks or buckets for collecting mushrooms, as they spoil quickly in such sealed containers. The harvested mushrooms must be sorted and prepared shortly after collection, and should only be eaten after being thoroughly cooked.
If you experience even the slightest signs of feeling unwell after eating mushrooms, you must call an ambulance immediately.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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