Deadly Reminder: Thai Officials Warn Against Wild Mushroom Foraging

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

 

As Thailand's rainy season sets in, health officials are issuing an urgent caution against consuming wild mushrooms due to the heightened risk of encountering toxic varieties. With both edible and poisonous mushrooms thriving, the public is strongly urged to exercise extreme caution while foraging.

 

The rapid growth of wild mushrooms presents a significant challenge, as misidentification can lead to severe poisoning or even death. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has underscored the dangers, particularly noting the difficulty of distinguishing toxic mushrooms in their early bud stage from safe varieties.

 

Dr Panumas Yanawetsakul, DDC Director General, highlighted two lethally toxic species: the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) and the Bleeding Milk Cap (Lactarius haemorrhagius). Both present a potent risk in the current season. The Death Cap, resembling edible mushrooms like the white russula, can cause fatal liver damage, with initial symptoms misleadingly mild until irreversible damage ensues.

 

Similarly, the Bleeding Milk Cap, recognizable by its red-tinged flesh, can lead to severe symptoms, including digestive distress and organ failure. These effects emphasize the critical need for immediate medical intervention at the onset of symptoms.

 

 

 

Medical guidance stresses against at-home remedies like inducing vomiting, recommending instead the administration of activated charcoal and water to mitigate toxic absorption while seeking professional help.

 

Foraging amateurs are advised to avoid picking wild mushrooms unless absolutely confident in their safety. The risk is compounded if mushrooms are collected from chemically treated areas or consumed improperly, such as with alcohol. The overarching advice remains firm: if uncertain, abstain from picking or eating.

 

As the rainy season reaches its peak, health officials aim to curtail fatalities by urging the public to refrain from consuming any wild mushrooms without expert verification, reinforcing safety over risk in the culinary exploration of the wild, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-04-09

 

 

[flyingtlger]

[dinsdale]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As Thailand's rainy season sets in,

?

[daveAustin]

Must be a typo. It might start to rain more in some areas but the actual rainy season is generally later in the year. 

[daveAustin]

Only interested in the magic variety. Why bother eating anything else? 😜

[Jessue]

Thats how my father was murdered.  As soon as i told his mrs that she can have everything when my father passes, two weeks later hes dead feom "COVID" i even have screenshots of their convos with pics laughing about what they did.  Essentially i killed him by being geneeous and an idiot.  

<deleted> the thai authorities.  3 years got nowhere.  Even the hospital death certificate is fraudulent.