Foragers, be warned, the rains in California hide poison in plain sight

California is experiencing a terrifying surge in death cap mushroom poisonings, resulting in four fatalities and requiring three victims to undergo emergency liver transplants. This rainy winter has led to an unprecedented “super bloom” of one of the world’s most dangerous fungi, prompting the California Department of Public Health to issue urgent warnings against foraging entirely this year.

Typically, California sees only two to five death cap poisonings in an entire year. Since November 18, however, health officials have reported nearly 40 cases of poisoning. According to AP News, Dr. Craig Smollin, medical director for the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System, noted that having almost 40 cases is very unusual. 

Experts believe the combination of warm fall temperatures and early, heavy rains created the perfect conditions for these death caps to flourish. This means they are proliferating not just in deep forests, but also right in city parks and often cluster under oak trees across Northern California and the Central Coast, including the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas.

You can’t take chances with this particular mushroom

The death cap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms globally because it contains amatoxins. These highly potent compounds are responsible for about 90% of all fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Even eating a tiny amount can be lethal, and cooking, drying, or heating the mushroom does absolutely nothing to neutralize the toxin.

The most dangerous part is how easily the death cap is confused with safe, edible varieties. The mushroom changes its appearance as it grows, shifting from a brownish-white cap to a greenish one. Experts warn that color is not a reliable indicator of toxicity. Dr. Smollin explained that unless you are a genuine expert who studies mushrooms, it can be extremely difficult to tell the difference.

The victims in this surge have ranged in age from 19 months to 67 years old. Many require ICU admission because of rapidly developing acute liver injury and liver failure. A disproportionate number of those poisoned have been Spanish, Mixteco, and Mandarin Chinese speakers. In response, the state has expanded its warnings into several different languages.

If someone ingests a toxic mushroom, they may experience stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting within 24 hours. The situation can deteriorate rapidly into fatal liver damage after that, even if early symptoms disappear. Since treatment becomes exponentially more difficult once serious symptoms start, doctors advise people to seek medical care immediately if they suspect they or someone they know has eaten a poisonous mushroom. 

Officials also strongly recommend only buying mushrooms from trusted grocery stores and licensed sellers. While you can’t do anything about some forms of poisoning, you can be careful about what you eat or buy to keep you and your family safe.