Morel mushroom health alert issued

Tag : mixed mushroom


The Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center is warning lovers of morel mushroom to never eat raw or partially cooked morels.

So far this month, the center has received seven calls from Montana and Idaho regarding morel poisonings. Mycologist Marilyn Shaw says that's a significant increase over the usual number. She says people should be aware of the dangers of eating raw or partially cooked morels, or consuming alcoholic drinks with either raw or cooked morels.

Morel mushrooms should always be fully cooked, and drying isn't a substitute for cooking. Pouring hot vinegar or spices over raw mushrooms also isn't an effective cooking method. As all mushroom lovers know, it's important to properly identify mushrooms when you're out collecting.

True morels are completely hollow with pitted and ridged caps that look somewhat like pine cones with a pallid or black look.