Avoid wild mushrooms, says expert following deaths
Consumers should avoid wild mushrooms and opt for commercially cultivated mushrooms, the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (SAMFA) said.
Association chairperson Ross Richardson told The Citizen mushrooms should only be purchased from supermarkets where safety is guaranteed.
“Commercial mushroom growing is one of the most technologically advanced and sophisticated agricultural industries in the world. Commercially grown mushrooms are never poisonous. In fact, they are seen as one of the new ‘super foods’ due to their many health benefits,” said Richardson.
“It is important to make a careful note of the fact that the mushrooms, which caused the Olievenhoutbosch family to become critically ill and subsequently die, were wild mushrooms randomly picked in nature.”
It had been alleged the family ate a meal with mushrooms on the night of December 5.
The mother, Johanna Mthethwa, was believed to have picked the mushrooms from a patch that neighbours said was along the way she walked from work every day.
The four family members, including a Grade 1 pupil from Olivenhoutbosch Primary and a Grade 11 pupil at Steve Tshwete Secondary School, allegedly died at different times while receiving intensive treatment at a local hospital after consuming the mushrooms.
The deceased are survived by a family member, who still goes to school.
Richardson said it was crucially important that there should be a clear differentiation between wild mushrooms and commercially cultivated mushrooms.
“They bear no resemblance to cultivated mushrooms that are commercially grown. Commercially grown mushrooms are mainly white button, portabella (big brown), portabellini (small brown) and baby button belonging to the genus Agaricus, which are always 100% safe to eat and sold in supermarkets,” he said.
“Wild mushrooms sprout spontaneously in nature and are not commercially cultivated and controlled. Although there are edible wild mushrooms, it is crucial to know that you cannot embark on wild mushroom picking, whether in a veld or in a garden, without extensive knowledge of poisonous wild mushrooms (toxic wild mushrooms).”
Richardson added that poisonous wild mushrooms were common, which makes identifying them complicated.
Read more: Condolences after family killed by poisonous mushrooms
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