What’s the best way to avoid eating poisonous mushrooms?

During the rainy season, wild plants are plentiful, with mushrooms being a particular favourite. But some mushrooms may be poisonous because they are contaminated with harmful chemicals that have leached into the soil. Recently, a man died in Attapeu province after eating mushrooms and the authorities are warning people to be careful about the consumption of wild food. In light of this tragedy, Vientiane Times asked for opinions on ways to avoid being poisoned by mushrooms.

Ms Naly, a resident of Saravan province: I follow the conventional wisdom of older people, who like to say that mushrooms that are eaten by animals are safe for humans, that any dried fungus is safe, and that no mushroom that grows on wood is poisonous. In addition, it’s important to cook mushrooms thoroughly by boiling them. But the only safe way
to avoid poisonous mushrooms is not to eat them if we don’t know
where they’ve been growing because they might have grown in soil that contains chemical residues, such as banana and rubber plantations. It’s no good spending a lot of money on wild mushrooms if they turn out to be toxic and someone dies.

Ms Souksavanh, a government official in Vientiane province:
Sometimes mushroom poisoning can occur because of environmental
factors. Mushrooms can act as sponges and absorb pesticides and
pollutants, making a mushroom that is normally edible toxic. Some people are allergic to mushrooms, and some individuals may be sensitive to certain edible varieties while others aren’t. Lastly, food poisoning can occur through improper handling and storage of mushrooms. I have heard that different types of poisonous mushrooms produce different symptoms, and those that are highly toxic can kill people. If you feel ill after eating mushrooms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Mr Bounchan Manivong, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane:
Of course, there are many kinds of wild mushroom and some are highly
poisonous. So it’s really important to be able to tell the difference between edible varieties and those that are harmful. In particular, it’s important to be aware of lookalikes and to always be very cautious. In fact, knowing what not to eat is as important as knowing what to eat, and if something can’t be identified for certain, it shouldn’t be eaten. I would like health officials to give more advice to people about poisonous mushrooms and what to do if you fall ill after eating any.

Ms Laek, an employee in Vientiane: Mushrooms are not only used as food, but some have medicinal properties. There are numerous kinds of wild mushroom that are harmful and I know that some people can have a serious reaction after eating them. There are some mushrooms that we always used to eat without a problem but nowadays they don’t seem to be safe. As we know, farmers use chemicals on their plants but if they use too much it can seep into the soil, get absorbed by plants, and leak into rivers and canals. If mushrooms absorb too much of these chemicals, even non-toxic types can become a health hazard. So I think to avoid any problems we shouldn’t eat any wild mushrooms if we don’t know where they were picked.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update August 4, 2022)