• Question: How are mushrooms poisonus

    Asked by tag123tag to Anouk, Chris on 22 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Chris Kettle

      Chris Kettle answered on 22 Jun 2012:


      hi tag123tag – some good questions earlier today 🙂

      Mushroom poisoning (also known as mycetism) refers to harmful effects from eating the toxic substances present in a mushroom. These symptoms can vary from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to death. The toxins present are secondary metabolites produced in specific biochemical pathways in the fungal cells. Mushroom poisoning is usually the result of eating of wild mushrooms after misidentification of a toxic mushroom as an edible species.

      The most common reason for this misidentification is close resemblance in terms of colour and general morphology of the toxic mushrooms species with edible species. Even very experienced wild mushroom gatherers are upon rare occasion poisoned by eating toxic species, despite being well aware of the risks, through carelessness.

      To prevent mushroom poisoning, mushroom gatherers need to be very familiar with the mushrooms they intend to collect as well as with any similar-looking toxic species. In addition, edibility of mushrooms may depend on methods of preparation for cooking.

      So don’t eat any wild mushrooms!!!! Get threm from the supermarket instead.

    • Photo: Anouk Gouvras

      Anouk Gouvras answered on 22 Jun 2012:


      Hi tag123tag,

      most poisonous mushrooms have a type of alkaloid chemical that is poisonous to humans, either by interfering with important processes of the body, or directly damaging organs. An alkaloid is an organic, nitrogen based compound and is produced by plants and fungi (mushrooms).

      There are over 100 species of mushrooms that are poisonous to humans and about 20 that are lethal. There is no simple rule for identifying the edible from the poisonous mushroom. Apparently most cases of mushroom poisoning occurs because of misidentification of the mushroom by people new to mushroom hunting. So like Chris says, buy from the supermarket!

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