Dear Editor:
“Wild” mushrooms have become popular in today’s modern food environment with many restaurants featuring them in dishes or on their menus. With mushrooms growing wild it is easy to pick them for home use. Some mushrooms however, should not be eaten because they can make the eater sick or even die. Many poisonous mushrooms look like non-poisonous ones and only a trained mycologist can differentiate between which ones are good and which ones can kill. Some symptoms of severe mushroom poisoning can include intense vomiting and diarrhea and can lead to liver failure and even death. There is no easy way to tell the difference between poisonous and harmless mushrooms. Many kinds of mushrooms look alike. Toxic and non-toxic mushrooms can grow side by side. It takes a specialist, such as a mycologist in a laboratory, to correctly identify a mushroom with certainty. Children should be taught never to touch or taste outdoor mushrooms.
Treatment of Exposure: Eating any plant or mushroom collected outdoors should be considered dangerous. Call the New Jersey Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately if you suspect someone has eaten one. Even after a serious poisoning symptoms may not appear until many hours later. Do not wait until symptoms appear.
Mouth: Immediately remove any remaining parts of the plant or mushroom from the mouth. Save the other parts of the mushroom for identification.
Tips to Prevent Plant Poisonings: Know the names of plants and flowers you have in and around your home. Plants can be identified at your local nursery or florist and should be labeled with both the common and botanical name; House plants and flowers should be placed out of reach of young children and pets;
Keep labeled bulbs and seeds out of children and pet’s access;
Do not eat wild plants, berries or mushrooms collected outdoors. The cooking process does not make poisonous plants safe to eat;
Teach children to never put any part of a plant, flower or mushroom in their mouth. This includes the leaves, stems, bark, seeds, berries and bulbs; Do not make “tea” from the leaves;
When handling plants that may be irritating to the skin wear protective gloves, long pants and long sleeves. Clothes should be washed afterwards;
Smoke from burning parts of poisonous plants, like poison ivy, sumac or oak, can irritate or harm the eyes, throat and other parts of the body;
Dispose of plant leaves and flowers in a safe way so that children and pets cannot gain access to them;
Generally, plants toxic to humans are also toxic to pets.
Remember, Help is just a phone call away! Always call the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) immediately if any plant, seed, wild berry or wild mushroom is ingested. The Poison Control Center will instruct you on what to do next. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 1-800–222-1222.
The New Jersey Poison Information & Education System
Newark, NJ