2023-08-31 15:04:44
More than 250 cases of mushroom poisoning have been recorded since August 1, the rainy weather in several regions having advanced the picking period, underline the health authorities.
This is twice as much as in 2022, according to the Health Security Agency (Anses), which reports the figures identified by the poison control centers.
Rainy weather in several regions of France in August favored the growth of mushrooms, explains the health agency, encouraging “vigilance“.
Poisoning results from several causes:confusion of an edible species with a toxic species, sometimes due to the use of a mushroom recognition application on a smartphone (…), or consumption of edible mushrooms in poor condition, poorly preserved or insufficiently cooked“.
Between July 1 and December 31, 2022, 1,923 poisonings were reported to poison control centres. A figure higher than previous years (1,269 in 2021) but with a slight decrease in the number of serious cases: 37 cases of high severity (compared to 41 in 2021) including two deaths (compared to 4 deaths in 2021).
In addition, while it is not recommended to serve them wild picked mushrooms, 74 young children were poisoned, including an 11-month-old child suffering from severe hepatitis requiring a stay in intensive care.
In 2022, of the 1,923 poisonings, 30 people had used recognition applications on smartphones, specifies ANSES.
To avoid accidents, ANSES, the Poison Control Centers and the General Directorate of Health remind you that you should only pick up mushrooms that you know perfectly well: in fact, some highly toxic mushrooms are very similar to edible species.
If there is the slightest doubt regarding the identification of one of the mushrooms harvested, the health authorities recommend not consuming the harvest before having it checked by a specialist in the field: pharmacist or mycology association.
They also remind you that you should never feed picked mushrooms to young children and do not eat mushrooms identified by means of a smartphone recognition application, due to the high risk of error.
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