Mushroom poisoning: Triple call window in August alarms experts!

Mushroom poisoning: Triple call window in August alarms experts!

The summer of 2025 has its dark sides in Germany, especially when it comes to the topic of mushrooms. The number of inquiries about mushroom poisoning has increased noticeably this year. Current reports from Nordkurier show that in August alone 62 calls were received due to suspected poisoning after eating collected mushrooms - almost three times as many as in the previous year, where only 21 requests were registered. This development is alarming and raises questions.

The population's preference for mushrooms continues unbroken. This increase occurred particularly in the federal states of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The weather conditions play their part: the wet weather enabled the mushrooms to grow well. In the first half of 2025, there were already 151 callers who contacted the poison control center because of suspected mushroom poisoning, while there were only 111 calls in the same period last year.

The Dangers of Mushroom Harvesting

The list of the most poisonous mushrooms shows how dangerous mushroom picking can be. Among the threatening species are the death cap mushroom, the panther mushroom and the hay manure mushroom, which usually only causes mild gastrointestinal complaints. On the other hand, death cap mushrooms, which contain the poison amanitin, can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea and fatal poisoning. These risks are why experts continue to warn about which species can be collected and eaten. Confusion between edible and poisonous species is common; for example, the pearl mushroom and the panther mushroom are often not clearly distinguishable.

There are around 150 species of poisonous mushrooms in Europe, and the frequency of poisoning varies depending on the region and the weather. This makes it particularly important to be knowledgeable when going mushroom hunting. The Ärztezeitung points out that the diagnosis of mushroom poisoning is often challenging because many cases are rare in everyday clinical practice and there is a lack of experience Diagnostics and therapy are lacking.

Important information for collectors

The symptoms of poisoning can often be non-specific and so an often dangerous search begins. Patients should be monitored in hospital for at least 36 hours after consuming poisonous mushrooms. Therapy for amatoxin poisoning includes, among other things, the administration of antidotes such as penicillin G and silibinin. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial, as evidenced by the experience of poison control centers.

If the risks seem too great, poison control centers are an important point of contact. The Joint Poison Information Center in Erfurt is available around the clock and offers free advice. In the event of life-threatening symptoms - such as loss of consciousness or seizures - the emergency doctor should be called immediately.

It is essential that foragers remain vigilant and continually refresh their knowledge of mushroom handling, especially during the mushroom season from September to November. Nature has many delicacies in store, but there are also dangerous surprises waiting right under the leaves.