Three more people sick in California amid ‘unprecedented outbreak’ due to toxic mushrooms | California

“”Since November 2025, California has seen 47 cases of people accidentally foraging and eating poisonous wild mushrooms, including death caps, which can resemble edible species, and western destroying angel mus​​hrooms. Four people have died and several have required liver transplants.””

There are old mushroom hunters and bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old bold mushroom hunters. Don’t eat wild mushies that don’t have 100% unique characteristics with which they can be identified, and sufficient experience and knowledge to make that ID.

I wonder how many of them trusted AI identification apps to tell them it was safe to eat?

This is honestly terrifying because people really underestimate how dangerous wild mushrooms can be. Every year someone thinks they found a ‘natural organic snack’ and ends up in the hospital fighting for their life. The scary part is that some toxic mushrooms apparently look almost identical to harmless ones unless you’re an actual expert. Nature really said ‘here’s a fun survival minigame.’ I feel bad for the victims though because a lot of people genuinely don’t realize how serious mushroom poisoning can get until it’s too late.

> Unprecedented outbreak Clickbait makes it sound contagious. Don't eat plants found in random locations.

That isn't an outbreak. That's humans being dumb. We should make it into a reality show.

Are the mushrooms in the pic Destroying Angels?

Outbreak of stupidity. If you can't properly identify them don't eat them!

> Since November 2025, California has seen 47 cases of people accidentally foraging and eating poisonous wild mushrooms, including death caps, which can resemble edible species, and western destroying angel mus​​hrooms. Four people have died and several have required liver transplants. > The incident comes as recent rains have contributed to the resurgence of poisonous wild mushrooms across the state Californians are always mocked for not being able to handle some light rain. I've always thought it was a joke based on how we were so used to the perfectly mild weather all-year long. Or maybe our drought. Turns out it should be based on how mushroom foragers are stupid as f***.

an outbreak of foolishness

Destroying Angel is the coolest mushroom name. Amanitas are gorgeous. I would never consider foraging a lookalike species here.

Unprecedented!? It literally happens every year in California.

I just play it safe and don’t eat mushrooms in general. The idea of eating a fungus just creeps me out and kept me away from them. More for everyone else who loves them.

Grok can I eat this mushroom??

Fulminant hepatic necrosis is a heck of a way to die.

None of them read the memo.

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Yeah as someone who woke up in the hospital with my family standing above me looking all worried. Don’t eat strange mushies.