Source: Three more people sick in California amid ‘unprecedented outbreak’ due to toxic mushrooms | California | The Guardian . . . Since November 2025, California has seen 47 cases of people accidentally foraging and eating poisonous wild mushrooms, including death caps, which can resemble edible species, and western destroying angel mushrooms. Four people have died and several have required liver transplants. The Napa group ate mushrooms foraged from the Deer Park area, according to a statement from the county public health department. The incident comes as recent rains have contributed to the resurgence of poisonous wild mushrooms across the state, said Dr Christine Wu, the county’s public health officer. “Poisonous mushrooms can look and taste similar to safe mushrooms, and even experienced mushroom hunters have been affected by this outbreak,” Wu said in a statement. Symptoms can start out mild but quickly become fatal, according to the county public health department, which advised people not to eat wild mushrooms and keep children and pets away from the fungi. . . . Heads up. Bob Wilson
The death cap's range has been expanding in the US. There is a treatment for its poisoning. It protects the liver until the patient can pass the toxin. Probably still in clinical trials, but the principal investigator will supply it for cases if you contact him.
speaking of mushrooms (isn't they're another recent thread on shrooms?) - it makes one wonder if ingesting the bad ones is a case of mistaken identity. Not edible mistaken identity . Wouldn't know the difference by looking whether those ingested for hallucinogenic effects - but it makes one wonder if that's the case
All you need is one bad mushroom in the batch to spoil the entire pot. Especially for those that think AI pictures are great and don't know any better - are they willing to bet their life on it???? "even experienced mushroom hunters have been affected by this outbreak,” Wu said in a statement."
I've never studied mushroom toxin(s) but wonder if there is or could be a "test strip?" Do white mice have the same fatal consequences? Bob Wilson
Well, they do use pigs of some sort to find truffles, which are a mushroom of some sort. Don't know if that means they eat them versus finding them.
