Public Urged Not To Eat Foraged Wild Mushrooms
The County of Santa Barbara Health Department is issuing an updated warning regarding the dangers of consuming foraged wild mushrooms after the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported that recent rainfall has contributed to widespread growth of toxic death cap mushrooms across California, significantly increasing the risk of accidental exposure.
Since Death Cap mushrooms are easily confused for safe-to-eat mushrooms, all mushroom foraging should be avoided.
Between November 18 and January 18, the California Poison Control System (CPCS) has identified 39 hospitalized cases including 4 deaths, and 3 liver transplants linked to the ongoing outbreak. The cases have been reported across Northern California and the Central Coast, spanning regions from Sonoma to San Luis Obispo. Affected individuals range in age from 19 months to 67 years and include family groups and individual cases…