MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms Come in a Variety of Sizes, Shapes and Colors
That Are Often Attractive to Children.
• Mushrooms are considered by many to be a delicacy and are an excellent flavoring agent
when cooking.
• BUT NOT ALL MUSHROOMS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR EATING.
• Mushrooms used in cooking should only be purchased from your local grocery store.
• Mushrooms growing in the yard or woods are often referred to as ‘wild mushrooms’.
• Different wild mushrooms can cause different symptoms.
• Some of these mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can cause damage to your kidneys
or liver and some can even cause death.
• Sometimes mushrooms do not cause symptoms until many hours after they are eaten.
• Therefore, if someone has eaten a mushroom or even a small portion of a wild mushroom, it is
important to call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION
Mushrooms are often difficult to identify as there are thousands of different types in the
U.S. An accurate description of the mushroom is extremely important if someone has
eaten a wild mushroom.
When you call the Poison Center, you will be asked to help identify the mushroom by
answering these questions.
• Size, color and shape of the mushroom.
• Where the mushroom was growing, for example, in an open field,
under a tree, on wood or on a tree.
• If the top of the mushroom is smooth or if it has bumps or scales
on top.
• If the underside of the mushroom looks like ‘fish gills’ or a ‘sponge’.
• If the ‘fish gills’ attach to the stem of the mushroom or if they do not attach and are
considered free gills.
Attached Gills
(attached to the stem)
Free Gills
(not attached to the stem)
If someone has eaten a wild mushroom or even a small piece of the mushroom,
call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
• Keep the mushroom intact. If is broken apart, collect all pieces for proper
identification.
• Dig up additional mushrooms in the yard including the portion growing
underground.
• If there are different kinds of mushrooms growing in the yard, collect these,
too.
• Have the mushroom with you when you call the Poison Center.
• If possible, take a digital picture of the mushroom ingested and send this to
the Poison Center staff.
• The Poison Center staff will use all information you give about the
mushroom in consulting with experts in mushroom identification so that
appropriate treatment recommendations are made.
Never let children play
with wild mushrooms.
Remove mushrooms if
they are growing in your
yard.
POISON PREVENTION TIPS
_____________________________________________________________________
• If there is a ring of tissue
around the stem that looks like
a hula skirt or is the stem plain
with no extra tissue.
• If the bottom of the stem is
straight with no additional tissue,
looks like a bulb, or has a
separate cup of tissue.
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POISON HAZARDS
The Alabama Poison Center I 2503 Phoenix Drive I Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 I FAX 205-345-7189
