Mushroom warning for Sussex foragers (From The Argus)
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Mushroom warning for Sussex foragers
7:00am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News
Food-lovers are being warned to take care when foraging for wild mushrooms around Sussex this autumn.
Every year scores of people need medical help after eating poisonous mushrooms and experts and health bosses say it is vital they take the necessary precautions.
The Health Protection Agency warns that some varieties are so toxic that they can prove fatal if eaten, while others cause sickness and severe cramps.
Toxins in some of the most dangerous mushrooms are also generally not destroyed by cooking.
Geoff Dann, from Brighton, is an expert on wild mushrooms and regularly takes people out on foraging sessions.
He said: “When it comes down to it, the obvious guidance is don't eat anything unless you know what it is
“It's only dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.
“Provided people follow some basic rules, then they can learn about foraging for mushrooms without poisoning themselves or causing any serious ecological damage.
“Some mushrooms don't kill right away. It can take a while for the toxins to build up and start damaging your kidneys, particularly if you eat loads of them.
“You have to be 100% certain and never take any risks.”
Comments(9)
ICantThinkOfAName
says...
9:19am Sat 15 Sep 12
Goldenwight
says...
10:04am Sat 15 Sep 12
ICantThinkOfAName wrote:As a former pharmacist myself, I would actually consider it a blessing that we don't!
It's a pity that we in the UK don't follow the French example where all Pharmacies are required to advise members of the public if the mushrooms they pick are safe to eat.
Dredil06
says...
12:36pm Sat 15 Sep 12
chilliman
says...
1:12pm Sat 15 Sep 12
ocers if you leave them too long and they start to spread their spores. Usually the mushrooms will turn black to warn you.
Some (magic) mushrooms can have very interesting effects when consumed. This was used in one of H G ells' short stories - The Purple Pileus, where a mild mannered shopkeeper with a shrewish wife got his nerve up to tackle her after eating some of the fungi.
chilliman
says...
1:13pm Sat 15 Sep 12
chrisinbrighton
says...
9:59pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Magic one's are better for you
F in L
says...
12:27am Mon 17 Sep 12
After picking, magic mushrooms are often eaten raw or are dried out and stored. Some people use the dried mushrooms to make tea. Most people take between 1-5 grams.
A lot of the commentators on here ingest them
Geoff Dann
says...
3:41pm Tue 18 Sep 12
nosolution wrote:Hi nosolution.
And those basic rules are?Please tell us Mr Dann.Don,t treat us like mushrooms..
The most basic rule is you don't eat it unless you know exactly what it is. :-)
Followed by, if you don't whether it is poisonous then you don't know if it is rare either."
Geoff
nosolution says...
8:28am Sat 15 Sep 12