All mushrooms are edible, but some only once. This kind of somewhat macabre joke is a classic among mushroom fans and perfectly summarizes the latent danger in this hobby. A mistake when identifying a species can end in tragedy, so now that the strong season begins, it is worth taking into account some advice from experts in the field and memorizing well the appearance of edible and toxic mushrooms to avoid scares.
When in doubt, better not to take it. It may seem like common sense but it is the advice most repeated by veterans when it comes to going mushroom picking. And given his insistence, it seems that it is still necessary to emphasize the danger of the matter and the seriousness that an error when identifying a variety can have. Especially considering that many of the most palatable ones have their toxic equivalent.
For those who prefer figures to advice, here is one: according to the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, of the 1,500 species of mushrooms cataloged in the Iberian Peninsula, about 100 contain toxic substances of greater or lesser danger.
It is estimated that there are about 400 poisonings a year in Spain, some as serious as the one at the Riff restaurant in Valencia at the beginning of 2019, where morels could have been the cause of the death of a diner.
The most beautiful, the most dangerous
“If you’re not sure, leave it. But don’t step on it either, leave it,” insists Pau Santamaria. Responsible for a company that supplies vegetables to some of the country’s largest restaurants, Santi Santamaría’s son remembers that it was his grandmother who really knew about mushrooms and who once gave them advice. Including that the prettiest are the most dangerous.
On his Instagram account he shows us some examples, such as the colorful Clathrus ruber – known as red cage in some places – as striking as it has a pestilent and unappetizing odor. In fact, the Amanita muscaria is possibly the most iconic mushroom and is known in part because of The Smurfs. But not only is it pretty, it is one of the most toxic species.
The hallucinogenic effects have also contributed to creating a kind of legend around it, although from a gastronomic and mycological point of view the most relevant – and dangerous – is that the Amanita caesarea, considered the queen of mushrooms, is very similar.
Better accompanied
Around 90% of deaths due to mushroom poisoning are due to amanitins, present in Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa, Amanita verna, Amanita gemmata and some species of the genera Galerina and Lepiota, warn the National Institute of Toxicology.
The deadly Amanita phalloides is a good example of how difficult it can sometimes be to identify a mushroom. This is explained by Miguel Gimeno, head of CestaySetas.com, one of the reference sites in the world of mycology in Spain.
It turns out – Gimeno details – that phalloides in the egg state is dangerously similar to Caesarea. A kind of death trap in the most literal sense of the term that only experts will know how to identify and discard.
There are more examples, of course. The delicious Amanita ponderosa (gurumelo) can be confused with Amanita verna, also known as hemlock and another of the most dangerous poisonous mushrooms. The popular chanterelles also have their toxic sister: Omphalotus olearius.
Hence, Gimeno is quite cautious when recommending one of the many mobile applications that show a catalog of edible and toxic mushrooms with images or that even claim to be able to identify the species by taking a photo of it.
“You have to be accompanied by someone who really knows until we ourselves are experts. And be clear about which mushrooms we are looking for based on the area through which we move,” he recommends.
But is there any species that is safe for newbies and doesn’t have its bad twin? “There are thousands, there will always be some that look like another,” says Gimeno. Chanterelles, for example, could be classified as simple, although with qualifications because depending on whether they “bleed” red, orange or white, they will be good or not. The first two, by the way, are the ones we are interested in eating.
Based in Valencia, this website and online store dedicated to the world of mushrooms also reminds us that many mycological associations open on Mondays for a reason: if you are not totally sure, you can pick the whole mushroom, including the root, without cutting it. , and take it to be identified.
That is, information and common sense against the myths, often dangerous, about mushrooms and their toxicity. There is no antidote for Amanita poisoning, nor is it true that if they are bitten by animals they are edible, the Institute of Toxicology reminds us on its official website. Nor does it mean that the toxic ones taste bad or that they become harmless with salt or vinegar.
For now, harvesting fans are still waiting for a storm to save a season that is not looking good at all due to the heat and wind of recent weeks.
