Beware of phone recognition apps: more than 400 mushroom poisonings since July

Champignons : plus de 400 intoxications depuis le mois de juillet

L’automne annonce la saison des champignons… Et avec elle, le nombre de cas d’intoxications explose. Depuis le 1er juillet 2024, plus de 400 cas ont déjà été recensés.

In 2023, more than 1,400 mushroom poisonings were reported to Poison Control Centers between July 1 and December 31. This year, since July, there have been more than 400 reports.

Beware of recognition applications

How can we explain that each year resonates like the previous one? "These poisonings result from several causes", explains the National Agency for Food Safety (Anses).

"Confusion of an edible species with a toxic species, sometimes due to the use of a mushroom recognition application on a smartphone giving an incorrect identification of the mushrooms picked, or even consumption of edible mushrooms in poor condition, poorly preserved or insufficiently cooked."

The right actions to take

The health consequences are not insignificant: severe digestive disorders, kidney complications, liver damage that may require a transplant… A reminder of good harvesting and consumption practices is therefore essential:

Only harvest mushrooms that you know perfectly; If in doubt, have your harvest checked by an expert (pharmacist…); Harvest whole specimens in good condition; Separate the species to avoid mixing poisonous pieces with edible mushrooms; Use a basket or box, not a plastic bag that accelerates rotting; Cook your harvest sufficiently and consume in moderation. Never eat wild mushrooms raw; Avoid giving them to young children; Do not rely on smartphone recognition applications.

If symptoms appear following the consumption of mushrooms – diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, tremors, dizziness, visual disturbances, etc. – call a poison control center immediately :

ANGERS : 02 41 48 21 21 BORDEAUX : 05 56 96 40 80 LILLE : 08 00 59 59 59 LYON : 04 72 11 69 11 MARSEILLE : 04 91 75 25 25 NANCY : 03 83 22 50 50 PARIS : 01 40 05 48 48 TOULOUSE : 05 61 77 74 47