What are mushrooms?

Mushrooms are part of a fungus. They usually grow above ground on soil. There are lots of types of fungi and mushrooms in Australia. Some mushrooms look the same even though they come from different fungi.

Some wild mushrooms are poisonous and can make you very sick. You could even die from eating them.

What is mushroom poisoning?

Some wild mushrooms have poisons inside them. If you eat them, you can get sick from the poison. This is known as mushroom poisoning.  Some wild mushrooms have poisons that can kill a person if they eat enough. Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides), which are highly poisonous and can kill if eaten, have recently been found growing in NSW.

Some people get mushroom poisoning because they eat poisonous wild mushrooms that they thought were a safe type of mushroom to eat. For example, highly poisonous death cap mushrooms look like paddy straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) that can be eaten. To avoid a terrible mistake, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms.

There is no way to make a poisonous wild mushroom safe to eat. You cannot get rid of the poison by cooking, soaking, peeling or drying them.

What are the symptoms of mushroom poisoning?

Eating poisonous wild mushrooms can cause:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal (stomach) pain or cramps
• diarrhoea
• hallucinations.

Some mushrooms can cause liver failure, kidney failure and death.

You may get sick 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating the mushroom. The amount of time will depend on: 

• the type of mushroom
• how much you ate
• your general health.

Am I at risk of mushroom poisoning?

Everyone is at risk. If you eat poisonous wild mushrooms, you can get very sick and you can even die.

Children under five years of age are especially at risk. This is because they often have an instinct to put things in their mouths. They may accidentally eat a poisonous mushroom if they are in a place where there might be mushrooms, including the garden at home.

How do I protect myself and others from mushroom poisoning?

The best thing to do is to only eat mushrooms you get from a reliable supermarket, grocer or market.

Some people go on mushroom picking tours in NSW. They pick wild Saffron Milkcap mushrooms (Lactarius deliciosus) or Slippery Jack mushrooms (Suillus luteus) in a pine forest. Be aware of the risks of accidently picking poisonous wild mushrooms while on tours. Never pick and eat wild mushrooms outside of an organised tour. There is no easy way to know if a wild mushroom is edible or poisonous.

It is important to prevent young children putting wild mushrooms in their mouths by:

• watching your child when they are outside
• checking for any mushrooms in your garden or at the park and removing them before allowing your child to play. 

What do I do if I have eaten a wild mushroom?

If you are worried you might have mushroom poisoning, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week).

If possible, take a sample of the mushroom or a photo to help identify the species of mushroom.

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or go to an Emergency Department.