California warns after 21 mushroom poisonings, 1 death
California officials warned the public after 21 people were sickened and one person died in a cluster of mushroom poisonings concentrated in Monterey and the San Francisco Bay areas, saying the toxin involved is amatoxin (not neutralized by cooking, boiling, drying or freezing) and that at least one patient may require a liver transplant. CDPH director Erica Pan urged people not to forage during the high‑risk rainy season (October–March), noting dangerous species such as the death cap (2–6 inches tall, yellowish‑green) and the destroying angel, and officials advised eating only store‑bought mushrooms or leaving wild mushrooms to extensively trained foragers.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- An outbreak in California has sickened multiple people and resulted in at least one death; officials say several patients were hospitalized and at least one may require a liver transplant due to severe liver damage.
- California Department of Public Health director Erica Pan and local officials are explicitly warning the public not to forage wild mushrooms during the current high‑risk season; Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said only extensively trained foragers should eat self‑picked mushrooms.
- State guidance urges people to eat only store‑bought mushrooms until the outbreak is under control.
- Health officials identified the toxin involved as amatoxin and emphasized that cooking, boiling, drying or freezing does not make death caps or similar toxic mushrooms safe to eat.
- Authorities added the destroying angel to species of concern in California alongside the death cap (death cap described as about 2–6 inches tall and yellowish‑green).
- The cluster of cases has been concentrated in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas; officials note California’s rainy season (October–March) increases mushroom growth and associated poisoning risks, and Monterey County hospitals are reporting rising cases.
đź“° Sources (3)
California Discourages Wild Mushroom Foraging After Fatal Outbreak
New information:
- State officials specify the toxin involved as amatoxin and emphasize that cooking, boiling, drying or freezing does not make death caps safe.
- CDPH says at least one patient in the outbreak may require a liver transplant due to severe liver damage.
- Geographic detail that significant outbreaks have been reported in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas; Monterey County hospitals report rising cases.
- Public guidance to eat only store‑bought mushrooms until the outbreak is under control, with physical description of death caps (2–6 inches tall, yellowish‑green).
- Quoted warning from Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno reinforcing that only extensively trained foragers should eat self-picked mushrooms.
California health officials issue urgent warning to mushroom foragers after deadly poisoning outbreak
New information:
- On‑record quote from CDPH director Erica Pan explicitly advising the public not to forage during the current high‑risk season.
- Explicit warning adds the 'destroying angel' mushroom to species of concern in California alongside the death cap.
- Seasonal context: California’s rainy season (October–March) increases mushroom growth and associated risks.