Four people have died and three others have required liver transplants after eating the aptly named death cap mushroom that is proliferating in California following a rainy winter.
The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.
Since Nov. 18 there have been more than three dozen cases of death cap poisonings reported, including the four deaths and three liver transplants, according to the health department. Many who sought medical attention suffered from rapidly evolving acute liver injury and liver failure. Several patients required admission to an intensive care unit. They have ranged in age from 19 months to 67 years old.
The death cap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world and is part of a small group of mushrooms containing amatoxins, which are highly potent compounds causing 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings globally. They are in city parks and in forests, often under oak trees.
I don’t even get why people do this. They cost almost nothing from the supermarket.
Supermarket mushrooms are all basically different stages of the same kind. They’re the white bread of mushrooms. If you’re lucky, you’ll find enokis or shiitakes. Stuff like lionsmane, oysters, hen of the woods, and wood ear are FANTASTIC and nothing like the supermarket kind - that’s what people forage for. Basing all mushrooms on what’s available at the supermarket is like basing all cheese on mild cheddar.
Not sure why anyone would eat a death cap though. That and amonitas are probably the most famous “this shit will kill you” mushrooms
It’s mostly immigrants from asia confusing them for the Straw Paddy Mushroom, which is native to East Asia and pretty darn tasty.
Supermarket mushrooms are usually just Portobello. And most people who claim not to like mushrooms have only had those. Get you some morels, chicken of the woods, or chanterelles, they all taste different.
Dopamine reward
People should really look into growing the less common varieties at home. You can get supplies and spores or cultures from reputable companies so you don’t have to worry about identifying them yourself. You can’t grow all varieties easily at home, but you can grow more than you can buy at the store.
The best mushrooms are not found in supermarkets.