A woman dies after ingesting the most poisonous mushroom in the world, the Amanita phalloide, mistaken for an edible species. Here is everything that is important to know to avoid mushroom poisoning, from advice on how to recognize them to the symptoms not to ignore.
Tragic fatality in Follina, in the province of Treviso, where an elderly woman died after consuming poisonous mushrooms. Ermelinda Aiello, 83 years old, exchanged theAmanita phalloideone of the most toxic mushrooms, for a common nail, cooking it in a risotto that proved fatal. The woman was urgently admitted to hospital on 19 October, already in very serious conditions due to acute intoxication. Despite doctors’ attempts to save her, the 83-year-old died after ten days of agony. The son was also intoxicated.
But what do you need to know and do when you come across some mushrooms that it seems palatable?
Don’t play at being an expert
Let us never improvise as expert mushroom pickers. Falling into error is very simple, because often i poisonous mushrooms they are indeed very similar to the edible varieties and cause confusion. If we want go for mushroomsbut we don’t know them well enough, we ask a person who has long experience in collecting and recognizing them to accompany us on the walk through the woods.
Contact the ASL
In fact, local health authorities usually have services for recognition of poisonous mushrooms and edible. The Local Health Authorities provide the fresh mushroom recognition service approximately from August to November, with the presence of a mycological inspector.
Recognize the symptoms
In case of serious mushroom poisoning we can talk about a real one poisoning. It is therefore good to know the symptoms so you can act accordingly.
In the most serious cases themushroom poisoning can:
Often, then, problems gastrointestinal are mistakenly mistaken for the flu. Symptoms of poisoning can appear 30 minutes to 12 hours after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Less serious cases are treated with the simple administration of drugs for a few days. In other cases, hospitalization is necessary. In the worst circumstances, the liver can suffer such serious damage that it requires urgent treatment transplant of the organ.
Collect or purchase and store mushrooms
Unfortunately, there is no shortage of cases of poisoning linked to the consumption of inedible mushrooms that ended up on the market by mistake. At the time of buy mushrooms, check the presence of the mycological card. You will need to know the origin of the mushrooms, their type and, if possible, also the harvest date, before purchasing them.
Transport collected or purchased mushrooms preferably in paper bagsavoiding plastic bags, to avoid the formation of mould, humidity and rot. To preserve mushrooms, you can opt, for example, for drying, preparing pickles or freezing after cooking. In any case, before deciding to eat or preserve mushrooms, if you have any doubts about their type and origin, consult the opinion of an expert. At the local health authorities, the experts will show you the best methods for consuming and preserving mushrooms depending on the type.
Avoid buying mushrooms from itinerants
Another extremely risky practice, and prohibited by law, is the itinerant sale of mushrooms, which should not be confused with the sale carried out by authorized street vendors in markets or fairs. In these cases, an identification error on the part of the collector or seller can have very serious consequences. By law, mushrooms intended for sale must be checked by a mycologist from the local health authority. In markets, for example, they must be displayed whole, on a single level and with the suitability certification issued by the mycologist who guarantees their safety. It is also advisable not to rely on mushrooms purchased online or on advice found on recognition apps, as they do not guarantee any scientific verification.
No to recognition apps
Relying on an app to recognize mushrooms may seem convenient, but it is extremely risky. These applications, although they disseminate general information, do not guarantee the safety and accuracy necessary to distinguish edible species from poisonous ones. Even small visual differences can lead to fatal errors, which is why it is essential to consult a qualified mycologist for verification. We remind you that only an expert can certify with certainty the safety of a mushroom for human consumption.
