Officials from the province’s poison control centre say they’ve noticed a rise in calls related to people foraging for wild mushrooms, including some cases were people wound up in the hospital.
The Ontario Poison Centre says they handled almost twice as many calls related to mushroom exposure in September compared the same month last year.
Although foraging for mushrooms has become a fairly popular outdoor activity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the centre says people who aren’t experienced or familiar with wild fungus shouldn’t take the risk.
Mistaking any poisonous mushrooms for edible ones could have serious consequences.
The centre says that symptoms of mushroom poisoning can range from mild to severe. They include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, along with potentially deadly symptoms like liver failure, seizures or comas.
The more severe symptoms can take up to a few days to appear.
Last year, the centre says they received 38 calls related to mushroom exposure. This year that number rose to 72.
