Autumn has arrived, bringing beautiful sunny weather across Poland—a perfect setting for an abundant mushroom season. Forests are teeming with a stunning variety of mushrooms, and many Poles are flocking to the woods daily, eager to fill their baskets with edible finds to be later turned into preserves, sauces, and soups. The favourable weather has also attracted first-time mushroom pickers, drawn to the excitement of foraging. Unfortunately, for some, this pursuit does not end well.

Mushroom gatherers should remember one crucial rule: if you don’t recognise a mushroom, don’t pick it. When uncertain about a mushroom’s edibility, it’s best to leave it behind, even if it appears large and enticing. The risk of poisoning—and potentially losing one’s life—is simply too high. Unfortunately, many inexperienced foragers ignore such caution, resulting in numerous cases of mushroom poisoning reported by doctors, with many ending up in the emergency department displaying severe symptoms.

When foraging for mushrooms, there’s a fundamental rule to remember: mushrooms with a sponge-like layer, known as a pore layer, beneath their caps are generally safe. However, if you encounter mushrooms with gills, it’s best to leave them be. While some gilled mushrooms are edible, inexperienced foragers should avoid them to minimise the risk. Despite these guidelines, many people are reluctant to follow established precautions. According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Polish hospitals see up to 5,000 cases of mushroom poisoning each season, mainly due to the consumption of misidentified mushrooms.

"We can always tell when there’s a spike in mushrooms in the forests by the increase in poisoning-related hospital admissions," said Dr Janusz Sokołowski, MD, head of the Hospital Emergency Ward at the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza. "The most severe cases, including those involving the deadly death cap mushroom, are fortunately rare. But many foragers have been deceived by look-alikes, such as parasol mushrooms that resemble the death cap. [...] When someone arrives with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or vomiting during mushroom season, we always ask if they’ve eaten wild mushrooms."

If you feel unwell after eating mushrooms—experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, or irregular heartbeat—contact a doctor immediately. Experts advise that it is crucial to induce vomiting and then save the vomit and any leftover mushroom dish for analysis. Importantly, avoid giving the affected person alcohol or milk. Gazeta Wyborcza also notes that these precautions should be followed by others who shared the same meal, even if they have not yet shown symptoms.

It’s also essential to remember that mushrooms should never be given to children, as they are too difficult for young digestive systems to process. If you’re an inexperienced mushroom picker but have collected mushrooms in the forest, visit local health authorities. During summer and autumn, trained specialists are available to advise on which mushrooms are safe to eat and which should be discarded.

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza