Strings, Not Morels! The First Case of Mushroom Poisoning This Year in Latvia 0 8

Doctors urge mushroom foraging enthusiasts not to get carried away with collecting spring mushrooms. It is very easy to get poisoned by what has already emerged in the forest to the delight of mushroom pickers.

And now — the count of poisonings has begun. A mushroom picker was admitted to the Toxicology and Sepsis Center of RAKUS Hospital after gathering and eating strings, mistaking them for morels. After tasting the forest delicacy, the man experienced vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disturbances, liver damage, and kidney problems.

Fortunately, it turned out fine. Thanks to the timely intervention of doctors, after several days in the hospital, the mushroom picker was sent home. According to the medical staff, he was very lucky. If he had sought help a little later, it would most likely have ended in death.

For this reason, doctors once again urge mushroom pickers to be extremely cautious. Especially since many are not well-versed in spring mushrooms and often confuse strings with morels.

While morels are edible mushrooms that can be consumed after boiling, strings are conditionally edible and can cause severe poisoning. Moreover, it is enough not to eat them but simply to inhale the vapors during cooking, as these vapors are toxic and contain the toxic substance gyromitrin found in morels. This toxin does not dissolve in water and remains even after multiple boilings.

So do not take risks and remember: the cap of the poisonous string is incorrectly rounded, brain-like and wrinkled. In contrast, the cap of the edible morel is symmetrical, conical, or oval. It is easiest to distinguish the mushrooms by cutting them lengthwise. The inside of a string will be fleshy, while a morel will be hollow.

However, even with edible morels, one should be cautious. This mushroom also contains a small amount of toxins that only break down after 15 minutes of heat treatment.