In spring and summer, as the temperature rises and humidity increases, wild mushrooms begin to grow rapidly.

During this period, the number of cases of poisoning from eating wild mushrooms has increased significantly, especially in some parks, botanical gardens, tourist attractions, and forest farms, where poisonous mushrooms grow vigorously.

The harm caused by poisonous mushrooms should not be underestimated. We must remain vigilant to avoid mistakenly consuming them and prevent poisoning incidents. The key to preventing poisoning is not to pick, eat, buy, or sell wild mushrooms of unknown species. Especially with mushrooms that are unfamiliar, do not pick them out of curiosity or to satisfy your appetite. Even when purchasing mushrooms from regular markets, stay cautious, particularly with wild mushrooms you have no experience with. People often underestimate the danger of poisonous mushrooms and mistakenly confuse them with non-toxic varieties. Therefore, whether dining out or at home, avoid eating wild mushrooms and carefully select only edible species to prevent poisonous mushrooms from making their way to your table.

The toxicity of wild mushrooms varies, with their toxins depending on factors such as species, region, season, and growing conditions. The incubation period for poisoning by poisonous mushrooms ranges from a few hours to a day, and the shortest is even only 10 minutes. After accidentally consuming poisonous mushrooms, the most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc., which may cause liver damage, mental symptoms, and even death in severe cases. Poisonous mushrooms are highly dangerous, and currently, there is no specific treatment for these toxins. Treatment can only involve mitigation measures. Therefore, improving the ability to identify poisonous mushrooms and taking preventive actions is crucial.

In daily life, some people mistakenly believe in certain folk methods of identifying poisonous mushrooms, which are often unreliable. For example, some people think that brightly colored mushrooms are poisonous while ordinary-colored mushrooms are non-toxic. However, many poisonous mushrooms are not brightly colored, and some poisonous mushrooms are even gray or white. This misconception can easily lead to accidental ingestion. For instance, some people believe that mushrooms cooked with garlic, rice, and other foods are poisonous if they change color, but this is not the correct way to identify poisonous mushrooms.

Another common misunderstanding is mistaking mushrooms with insects or discolored mushrooms for non-toxic ones. Many poisonous mushrooms remain highly toxic even if they are spoiled or infested with insects.

Therefore, we must abandon these unscientific views and adopt a more rigorous, scientific approach to determining the safety of mushrooms.

If you accidentally eat poisonous mushrooms, you should perform first aid as soon as possible. First of all, you can induce regurgitation to reduce the absorption of toxins. Drink plenty of warm water or light saltwater to induce regurgitation and attempt to expel the poison from the body. If the poisoned person is conscious, encourage them to regurgitated as much as possible; if they are already in a coma, do not force vomiting to avoid suffocation.

While inducing vomiting, immediately seek medical attention, keep the remaining mushroom samples, and provide them to the doctor for toxicity analysis, which will help in formulating an accurate treatment plan. Additionally, it is best to avoid drinking when consuming mushrooms, as alcohol can accelerate toxin absorption and increase the risk of poisoning.

We must always remain vigilant and avoid picking, buying, or eating unknown wild mushrooms. This is especially important when going on outings, as even some seemingly harmless mushrooms can pose dangers.

Food safety is essential to everyone’s health and well-being. Whether purchasing mushrooms in the market or cooking them at home, it’s important to ensure their source is clear and to avoid falling for rumors.

Only by improving our ability to identify poisonous mushrooms and adopting scientific, reasonable preventive measures can we better protect our own health and the health of others. This will help us truly cherish life and stay safe from the dangers of poisonous mushrooms.