When mushrooms become a dangerous trap

Mushroom picking is experiencing a boom. But experts have observed that inexperienced pickers often collect mushrooms without a second thought to safety. An emergency mushroom expert (Notfallpilzexperte) explains the risks involved – and why demand for inspections is rapidly increasing in Central Switzerland.
 

The forests are full, and so are the baskets – more and more people are collecting mushrooms. But alongside porcini and chanterelles, some highly poisonous lookalikes also end up in the basket. The fact is: mushrooms are popular – not only because of their taste, but also because collecting them is an experience in itself for many people.

Mushroom fever after coronavirus
‘We’re seeing a real boom,’ says Stephan Bhend, emergency mushroom expert for the city of Zug. The coronavirus pandemic period has reinforced this trend: for many, walking in the forest became a way to discover nature – and mushrooms have become a culinary highlight. Mushroom clubs have seen significant growth in recent years, with many younger members.

Today, families with children, including newcomers and experienced collectors come to the mushroom checks. ‘There's the whole spectrum – from the completely clueless to people with mushroom books,’ says Stephan Bhend. Apps, on the other hand, are problematic: they can identify mushrooms from a photo, ‘but they are often unreliable – and anyone who blindly relies on them risks poisoning themselves.’

On average over the last ten years, 85% of the mushrooms checked in Zug were edible, 14% were inedible – and 1% were poisonous. ‘But among these, there are often some that are deadly poisonous,’ explains Stephan Bhend. ‘One per cent sounds like very little – but even a single green death cap mushroom (Knollenblätterpilz) in your basket can be fatal.’ Its toxins can also be transferred to harmless mushrooms through contact – so if a poisonous mushroom ends up in the basket, all the other mushrooms in it must also be thrown away.

More than 5,000 species of mushrooms have been documented in Switzerland to date
– and only a few of them are edible             Photo: Andrea Zahler
The 'Pilzator’ Android app                               Screenshot: zvg
The death cap mushroom: one of the most poisonous in our latitudes       
Porcini mushrooms are among the most popular mushrooms and are easily recognisable by sight.
This basket full of honey mushrooms (Armillaria mellea) is more difficult to identify. They are poisonous when raw and can cause severe gastrointestinal problems.
Parasol mushrooms and black trumpet mushrooms are difficult to identify – but both are harmless
Mushroom photos: Hanspeter Bärtschi
 

The green death cap is considered to be one of the most dangerous mushrooms worldwide,, and is commonly found in Switzerland. ‘We had a serious case of poisoning in central Switzerland last year,’ says Stephan Bhend. One patient narrowly escaped ‘permanent health impairment’. ‘What makes it particularly tricky is that many poisonous species look deceptively similar to popular edible mushrooms.’ The green death cap is easily confused with harmless forest or meadow mushrooms.

‘Carelessness is the biggest risk’
According to Stephan Bhend, it’s often newcomers, rather than long-time collectors, who pick everything indiscriminately. ‘We see baskets that contain almost nothing edible,’ he says. Some people even bring along  mushrooms in the hope of having them declared ‘magic mushrooms’ – a clear mistake. These would be rejected during inspection in any case, but without giving a reason (*see note below).

The classic collectors are nature-loving people, often families. ‘It's a real experience when the children proudly show off their finds.’ At the same time, there are differences between old and young: older people rely heavily on their experience, while younger people are eager to learn and use books. ‘It becomes dangerous when overconfidence comes into play.’

Official mushroom inspections are not available everywhere. Obwalden, Nidwalden and Uri are a ‘mushroom inspection desert,’ as Stephan Bhend calls it. Collectors from these cantons have to take their finds to Lucerne or Zug, which causes longer waiting times there. An average of around 500 people seek advice in Zug per season – in 2022, after Corona, the figure was more than 700. ‘This shows that awareness of the risks is high,’ he says. ‘But every single case of poisoning is one too many.’

The inspectors' message is clear: only pick mushrooms if you know them for sure – and if in doubt, always have them checked. ‘Carelessness and overconfidence are the main causes of serious poisoning,’ adds Stephan Bhend. Because mushrooms are not only a nature experience and a culinary delight – they can also be dangerous.

*Magic mushrooms
Also known as psilos and ‘magic mushrooms’, these eukaryotes contain a substance (psilocybin) that has a similar effect to the drug LSD.

Although they are not deadly poisonous, ingesting them can lead to ‘bad trips’ and accidents. The trade, purchase, possession and consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms has been prohibited in Switzerland since 2002.
 

For more information on mushroom checks (in German):
Zug: https://www.stadtzug.ch/pilze/1745
Lucerne: https://www.stadtluzern.ch/dienstleistungeninformation/39572