Japan public warned of poisonous mushrooms resembling edible varieties

The Japanese health ministry has issued an urgent warning to hikers and foragers as autumn approaches, advising them to be cautious of poisonous mushrooms that closely resemble edible varieties. Over the past decade, more than 540 individuals fell ill from consuming toxic mushrooms, resulting in some fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Mushroom poisoning typically occurs during autumn, often following a hot summer season with moderate rainfall and cooler mornings and evenings. One of the most easily mistaken poisonous mushrooms is the Tsukiyotake, also known as the moonlight mushroom or Japanese Jack-o-lantern. This mushroom closely resembles commonly consumed edible mushrooms like shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Ingesting Tsukiyotake can lead to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea within 30 minutes to an hour after consumption.

Another deceptive mushroom is the Kusaurabenitake, or wood pinkgill in English, which has caused numerous cases of food poisoning due to its similarity to edible mushrooms such as honshimeji and hatakeshimeji. Additionally, the tengutake or panther cap, and dokutsurutake or destroying angel are particularly dangerous, as their ingestion can be fatal. The ministry has emphasized that individuals should not rely on online images or visual cues to determine the edibility of mushrooms found in the wild.

The health ministry has urged the public not to pick, consume, sell, or give away any mushrooms if their edibility is uncertain. In the event that someone experiences symptoms after eating mushrooms, it is strongly recommended that they seek immediate medical attention.