Collecting respect for mushrooms: How to recognize poisonous relatives!

Collecting respect for mushrooms: How to recognize poisonous relatives!

The mushroom season has finally been presented, and this is a reason for joy for many nature lovers. The cool, rainy weather in autumn invites you to roam the forests around Kassel in search of edible mushrooms. But despite the joy of collecting, caution is advised: experts warn of dangerous confusion that can have fatal consequences in the worst case.

"Attention is required when collecting: With all mushrooms, there is a risk of confusion with more or less poisonous, sometimes even fatal toxic mushroom types," explains Jörn Hödtke, a mushroom expert in the Kassel Health Department. The focus is in particular on the green tuber mushroom. According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), this fungus is responsible for at least 80 percent of the reported mushroom poisoning. Accounting about ten fatal poisoning in Germany are recorded annually, although many cases are not reported.

warnings of experts

"The consumption of just 20 grams of the green tuber mushroom can already have fatal consequences without medical treatment," warns Hödtke. It is particularly dangerous when toxic and edible mushrooms are similar to the taust or mushrooms. In many cases, poisoning does not immediately lead to serious symptoms. Often the consequences only show up for days or even weeks. Possible complaints are digestive problems that can extend until the decomposition of body muscles.

Since many people like to collect mushrooms, Hödtke does not want to spread panic, but rather to stimulate responsible harvest. To do this, he recommends that the prospective collectors to equip themselves with a selection of mushroom guides in order to be able to make a precise determination. A small guide with the 300 most common species and a comprehensive book with at least 1000 domestic species are excellent aids.

"If you want to collect mushrooms, you have to seriously deal with the matter. They are not as harmless as flowers that you simply pick," emphasizes Hödtke. It is particularly questionable to want to rely on apps or the Internet alone, since they are often not exactly enough and can easily lead to misunderstandings. According to Hödtke, new poisonous mushrooms are discovered every five years, which are often introduced from Asia.

correct preparation is crucial

Another important aspect of the mushroom kitchen is preparation. Some mushrooms, such as the Hallimasch, are raw poisonous, but result in a delicacy. If you want to search the local forests, you will receive valuable tips for determining and collecting at Hödtke in Schauenburg-Elgershausen. The passion for mushrooms has accompanied the 76-year-old expert since childhood.

For those who prefer to do without the harvest, there are good alternatives in the supermarket. "Culture mushrooms are a safe choice. I also recommend dosing monks because the risk that the entire supply chain worked is higher than with frozen products," says the expert.

Although many mushroom collectors are often reserved with their locations, the Kassel artist Flavio Apel gives an insight into his collective habits. "I only take what I really know," he describes his principles. His favorite places extend to remote angles in the Habichtswald to the Kaufung forest and often vary depending on the weather. "The amount of mushrooms collected depends entirely on the weather and can vary from year to year," adds Apel.

For experienced collectors, the forests in the Kassel district are a true Eldorado. But without the necessary knowledge and a good portion of caution, mushroom collecting can quickly become a dangerous undertaking. Before enjoying the collected fruits, a precise determination is recommended in order to really enjoy the delicious mushrooms without being at risk. Further details on this topic can be found in the detailed article at www.hna.de .