The Ohio Poison Center has been responding to an increased number of serious toxic mushroom exposures across the state of Ohio, including Portage County. Many of the cases involve backyard foraging for mushrooms. Cases associated with liver injury have been tentatively identified as exposure to Amanita bisporigera, otherwise known as Destroying Angel (a type of poisonous mushroom found in eastern North America). This type of mushroom is found in Ohio between July and October.
According to the CDC, it is critical to make sure mushrooms are not poisonous before eating them. People should not eat wild mushrooms unless an expert identifies them as safe. Call the Poison Help line at (800) 222-1222, with questions and reports of wild mushroom exposures.
