Mushrooms – Tasty Treat or Deadly Experience?

Mushrooms are one of those menu items that you either love or hate. One of my favorite childhood memories is of opening the door and smelling the distinct earthy smell of mushrooms permeating the air. We would excitedly pick them, like children hunting Easter eggs, waiting for my father to look at them to make sure that they were edible. There is more to mushrooms than just cooking and adding them to your hamburger or steak. There are many diverse types of mushrooms – they can be farmed or wild, foraged in the woods or in the aisle of the grocery store. Mushrooms are a wonderful addition to countless cuisines and are a nutritious source of low-calorie fiber and nutrients. If you enjoy foraging for edibles in the wild, make sure that a trained expert identifies any mushrooms that you pick to make certain that they are edible. Stay away from mushrooms that have white gills or a ring on the stem, as these are considered poisonous and can cause stomach upset or even death (1). This article points out how easy it is to consume the wrong mushrooms https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/07/mushroom-poisoning-behind-thousands-of-outbreaks-in-china/#:~:text=Mushroom%20poisoning%20is%20the%20leading,deaths%20from%202010%20to%202020 (2).

 According to the CDC, in 2021, poisonous mushrooms have been the cause of 1400 trips to the emergency room (3). The safest way to harvest mushrooms is to forage for them at your local grocery store, where they have been properly grown, prepared, and packaged.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer and want to get into the mushroom growing game, mushroom growing kits can be found online or at your favorite garden center. The University of Pennsylvania has a very interesting article on commercial mushroom growing that can be found here: https://extension.psu.edu/basic-procedures-for-agaricus-mushroom-growing.

From a food safety perspective, mushrooms are also one of the foods that can cause a foodborne illness outbreak. Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Listeria have all been attributed to mushrooms (3). These outbreaks have been attributed to handling, improper cleaning, and holding at incorrect temperatures. Thinking about having that Mushroom-Swiss burger? You might want to take a pass on mushrooms and go with just the Swiss cheese. Mushrooms held at incorrect temperatures for extended amounts of time can cause food-borne illness (4).

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can range from irregular heartbeat, seizures, nausea, kidney and/or liver failure. If you happen to contract a foodborne illness due to handling, improper cleaning or storage, symptoms can range from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and headache (5). If you have ingested mushrooms, especially foraged ones, and are displaying any of these symptoms, it is best to head to your local emergency room to seek medical help.

If you are preparing a dish that contains mushrooms, the usual food safety precautions are wise. Make sure food preparation surfaces are clean, wash your hands, keep cold foods cold, and cook to lethality temperatures. If you will be keeping the food warm, make sure it is consistent in temperature and that the temperatures are above 145°F.

 Storing mushrooms is easy just place them in a paper bag in the refrigerator to prevent spore growth (1). Inspect and clean them just prior to use. The Nutrition Source (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/mushrooms/ ) has great guidelines on how to prepare mushrooms with links to some fantastic sounding recipes.

Until next time, wash your hands, stay safe and keep on cooking!

1. Mushrooms. (2020, March 19). The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/mushrooms/
2. News Desk. (2021, July 2). Mushroom poisoning behind thousands of outbreaks in China. Food Safety News. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/07/mushroom-poisoning-behind-thousands-of-outbreaks-in-china/
3. CDC and Food Safety Newsletter. (2021, March 26). https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/newsletter/poisonous_mushrooms.html
4. Causes of mushroom related food poisoning outbreaks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://www.rapidmicrobiology.com/news/what-39-s-the-potential-for-mushrooms-to-cause-bacterial-food-poisoning
5. Government Relations Team. (2016). Fspca Preventive Controls for Human Food. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.