Since inedible wild mushrooms resemble edible mushrooms in appearance, most people can hardly tell whether they are safe for consumption. Some wild mushrooms contain chemical substances that are hazardous to health, and may lead to food poisoning or even death if consumed accidentally. To avoid mushroom poisoning, the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption.
What are the common edible mushrooms?
-Fresh shiitake mushroom, button mushroom, straw mushroom, gold needle mushroom.
-Dried black wood ear, silver ear, etc.
What are the causes of mushroom poisoning?
-Consumption of raw or undercooked mushrooms;
-Consumption of wild mushrooms that contain toxin;
-Consumption of edible mushrooms mixed with toxic mushrooms.
What are mushroom toxins?
-Mushroom toxins are produced by fungi naturally. Most of them are heat-stable and cannot be destroyed by cooking, refrigeration or other processing methods.
-Mushroom poisoning is generally acute, and incubation period and severity vary according to the species and quantity of mushroom consumed.
-Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and sometimes thirst, sweating, hallucination and coma may occur. In severe cases, mushroom poisoning may cause liver and kidney failure or even death.
How to consume mushrooms safely?
-Do not pick and consume wild mushrooms;
-Purchase mushrooms from reputable and hygienic shops;
-Do not purchase mushrooms with speckles or slime;
-When purchasing prepackaged mushrooms, one should check the expiry date;
-Do not purchase foods that are suspected to contain unknown species of mushrooms;
-Mushrooms become contaminated easily, so one should wash and cook them thoroughly before consumption;
-If one feels sick after consumption, he/she should bring along the remnants (if any) and seek medical treatment immediately.
