As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. But in many parts of the country, they also bring mushrooms, particularly tasty morels.
In the early spring, many amateur mushroom hunters fan out into the woods in search of these delicacies. However, according to the Michigan Poison Control Center, it’s not a completely harmless hobby. Poison Control has issued an alert, warning there has been an increase in cases of mushroom hunters inadvertently eating toxic mushrooms.
Alfred Capen from Clair, Mich., has hunted mushrooms all of his life. He learned from his mother, who used to pick them with him. Earlier this month, Capen found nearly 30 mushrooms he described as “beefsteak mushrooms.” They were about the size of his hand and had deep brain-like grooves on their tops. His daughter, Jennifer White, noticed her dad collecting the mushrooms, but didn’t think much of it.
The last few weeks, he has found a variety of them, brought them home and put them in the fridge, said White.
Capen decided to cook the mushrooms. As usual, he fried them with flour and butter. Turns out, they weren’t morels; they were a cousin, known as a false morel. The mushrooms were poisonous. Capen developed nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Lydia Baltarowich is a Henry Ford Hospital specialist in toxicology who also works at Poison Control. She said in the past two weeks, the center has had nine cases of false morel poisoning, including Capen’s. Baltarowich warned even experienced mushroom pickers can get into trouble.
Mushrooms change their amount of toxin and their look depending on where they grow and from season to season, said Baltarowich.
Capen kept getting sicker instead of better and eventually his daughter convinced him to go to the hospital.
“He was yellow, said White.
Capen’s liver was failing. He was placed in the intensive care unit and then transferred to Henry Ford Hospital for a possible liver transplant. After consulting with Poison Control, it was determined the mushrooms caused the liver failure.
Mushroom hunting is actually a very dangerous hobby, especially for the inexperienced enthusiast, said Baltarowich.
Baltarowich said if someone does get sick from a mushroom, put a fresh sample of the mushroom in a dry paper bag, don’t refrigerate it, and bring it to the emergency department so it can be identified. Sending a photo of the mushroom to Poison Control is also an option.
With treatment, Capen has recovered and has given up hunting wild mushrooms.
Baltarowich said there are classes and interest groups available to help the public learn safe ways to hunt mushrooms.
As a general rule, people who aren’t confident in their skills should avoid picking wild mushrooms. Experts also advised never eating wild mushrooms raw, not eating large amounts, and always saving a sample in case someone does get sick. When in doubt, call poison control right away at 800-222-1222.
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