Lhakpa Quendren

Sarpang—With over 600 mushroom species in the country, wild mushroom foraging is a popular activity but this also leads to increasing incidents of mushroom poisoning, if figures are any indication. 

Over the past three decades, Bhutan has recorded 26 deaths and 76 recoveries from mushroom poisoning.

The highest number of mushroom poisoning incident was reported in 2019, with 16 cases, followed by 13 in 2009 and 12 in 2012.

More than 100 species of mushrooms are poisonous, with many still unexplored.

Despite numerous awareness programmes, mushroom poisoning incidents continue, according to the National Mushroom Centre (NMC).

While people have been foraging mushrooms for generations, mushroom experts warn that some wild mushrooms, which resemble well-known edible varieties, can be highly toxic and pose serious health risks if consumed.

The Program Director of NMC said that the knowledge about mushrooms is still evolving, as it is a vast area. “Even lifelong mycologists can be poisoned if not cautious. So, it is no surprise that ordinary foragers with limited knowledge of mushrooms often get poisoned,” he said.

Misidentification of mushrooms often stems from either a lack of knowledge or the deceptive similarities between toxic and edible species.

The Senior Mushroom Supervisor at NMC, Sabitra Pradhan, said that incidents frequently occur among people resettling in new areas. “Migrants might mistakenly consume a similar-looking mushroom, which is poisonous,” she explained.

Other contributing factors include carelessness or overconfidence among foragers and inadequate awareness at the community level.

While mushrooms are becoming more popular, limited research budget hampers studies on myco-diversity, and public awareness.

Experts advise collectors to refrain from consuming unknown mushrooms, as accurate identification often requires microscopic examination or DNA analysis.

Some mushroom poisoning take time to manifest symptoms, leading to delayed treatment and potential organ damage. In some instances, mushroom poisoning symptoms can be confused with common illnesses like food poisoning or other similar conditions. These symptoms range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to severe poisoning, and in some cases, death.