Latest news with #ChristianMcGrath
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Health bosses warn Victorians against picking wild poisonous mushrooms
Foragers are being warned about potentially deadly mushrooms growing across Victoria as the weather becomes wetter and colder. Death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms appear during the autumn months, and if ingested, can be poisonous. The states's chief health officer Dr Christian McGrath urged Victorians not to pick and eat wild mushrooms unless they are an expert, and clear any that are spotted growing out of the way of children and pets. 'Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness,' he said on Tuesday. 'Consuming a death cap mushroom may result in death.' All wild mushrooms should be disposed of using gloves and placed into landfill bins, with no home tests currently available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous ones – which can cause stomach pains, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea. Mushrooms purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source are safe to eat, Dr McGrath added. Multiple deaths have been reported from suspected mushroom poisoning in Victoria in recent years. In April 2024, 53-year-old Rachael Dixon went into cardiac arrest and died after allegedly drinking a hallucinogenic concoction prepared from wild mushrooms. She was attending a healing retreat when she drank the fatal magic mushroom tea. Help is available around the clock via the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, to seek urgent medical advice.
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Health bosses warn Victorians against picking wild poisonous mushrooms
Foragers are being warned about potentially deadly mushrooms growing across Victoria as the weather becomes wetter and colder. Death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms appear during the autumn months, and if ingested, can be poisonous. The states's chief health officer Dr Christian McGrath urged Victorians not to pick and eat wild mushrooms unless they are an expert, and clear any that are spotted growing out of the way of children and pets. 'Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness,' he said on Tuesday. 'Consuming a death cap mushroom may result in death.' All wild mushrooms should be disposed of using gloves and placed into landfill bins, with no home tests currently available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous ones – which can cause stomach pains, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea. Mushrooms purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source are safe to eat, Dr McGrath added. Multiple deaths have been reported from suspected mushroom poisoning in Victoria in recent years. In April 2024, 53-year-old Rachael Dixon went into cardiac arrest and died after allegedly drinking a hallucinogenic concoction prepared from wild mushrooms. She was attending a healing retreat when she drank the fatal magic mushroom tea. Help is available around the clock via the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, to seek urgent medical advice.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
‘Risk of poisoning': Chilling health warning
Foragers are being warned about potentially deadly mushrooms growing across Victoria as the weather becomes wetter and colder. Death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms appear during the autumn months, and if ingested, can be poisonous. The states's chief health officer Dr Christian McGrath urged Victorians not to pick and eat wild mushrooms unless they are an expert, and clear any that are spotted growing out of the way of children and pets. Yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) is a type of poisonous mushroom that grows in Victoria in autumn. Credit: News Limited 'Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness,' he said on Tuesday. 'Consuming a death cap mushroom may result in death.' All wild mushrooms should be disposed of using gloves and placed into landfill bins, with no home tests currently available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous ones – which can cause stomach pains, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea. Mushrooms purchased from a supermarket, greengrocer or other reputable source are safe to eat, Dr McGrath added. Ingesting wild mushrooms, such as death caps, can be potentially deadly and cause stomach pains, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea. Source: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Credit: Supplied Multiple deaths have been reported from suspected mushroom poisoning in Victoria in recent years. In April 2024, 53-year-old Rachael Dixon went into cardiac arrest and died after allegedly drinking a hallucinogenic concoction prepared from wild mushrooms. She was attending a healing retreat when she drank the fatal magic mushroom tea. Help is available around the clock via the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, to seek urgent medical advice.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Health officials warn of death cap mushroom risk in Victorian home gardens as wet, cool autumn fuels growth
The Victorian health department is warning residents to stay on high alert, with poisonous mushrooms posing a serious threat in home gardens as a cool, wet autumn sets in. The aptly named death cap mushroom is of particular concern, as ingesting the fungi can be fatal and cooking the mushroom does not inactivate the toxin as is commonly thought. Death cap mushrooms ( Amanita phalloides), as with most species of fungi, grow more rapidly in wetter conditions. A range of poisonous mushrooms, including death cap mushrooms and yellow-staining mushrooms, become more prevalent in Victoria at this time of year. Even a single mushroom can be fatal if ingested. Early signs of poisoning can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath is encouraging Victorians to be on the lookout for wild mushrooms growing in home gardens and publicly accessible areas, like nature strips or any area where Oak trees are planted and mulch is present. Dr McGrath said it was important to remove any wild mushrooms growing in home gardens to avoid young children and pets coming into any contact with them. 'Adults and children should not touch wild mushrooms with their bare hands, let alone eat them, and animals should be kept well away from them,' Dr McGrath said. 'Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness. Consuming a death cap mushroom can be fatal.' Since there are no home tests to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous ones, the health department's official advice is to only consume mushrooms purchased from supermarkets, greengrocers, or other reputable sources. 'Unless you are an expert, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms.' Dr McGrath said. People should ensure they wear gloves when removing wild mushrooms from home gardens, before placing them inside a bag and then in a landfill rubbish bin.
