Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

An unidentified mushroom is pictured at Lodi Lake on Friday. Death cap mushrooms grow in some areas of the Nature Area. A family recently ingested mushrooms from the nature area and have been receiving medical treatment from the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

They look harmless, but mushrooms can and do kill

By Maggie Creamer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:12 AM PST

Comments (6 comment(s))

Nestled at the base of live oak trees in piles of leaves, white and yellow mushrooms sprout in the Lodi Lake Nature Area.

Resembling edible varieties in other areas of the world, these mushrooms, known as Death Caps, are extremely poisonous, and cause liver damage and possibly death.

Related story: Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

Three Lodi-area family members are still at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco after eating the mushrooms on Nov. 8. The family members waited two days before seeking medical attention at Lodi Memorial Hospital's emergency room and subsequently were transferred to the Bay Area hospital.

Because of a request from family members, hospital spokesman Kevin McCormack could not provide any additional information Friday on the names or statuses of the victims other than to say they are still at the hospital.

The victims ate Death Cap mushrooms, or Armanita phalloids. They told police they ate the mushrooms in the Lodi Lake Nature Area, where they grow attached to the roots of live oak trees.

While the city does not have a sign specifically warning of the dangers of mushrooms, it does have one that says "Picking of plants, defacing trees, or the collection of animal or plant species are prohibited."

Victims can become nauseous and have gastrointestinal problems within two hours after eating the mushrooms. The toxins can destroy the liver as well. The poisoning is so serious that 10 percent of the mushroom victims at the California Pacific Medical Center die, McCormack said.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.

Reader Feedback

lodidian wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:29 PM:

" I wanted to comment on Mr. Hixon's claim agianst the city for upgrading the grapebowl but failing to comply with ADA requirements----apparently LNS has decided this subject is no longer open for discussion under that story line so I am sending my note under this story.
My comment--"Here we go again". Lodi's mayor and his two supporters approved funding for frills at the grapebowl and ignored ADA requirements. Now we have another potentially expensive problem. "

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amanitarita wrote on Nov 21, 2009 1:47 PM:

" a correction:

Amanita phalloides poisonings are characterized by a late onset of symptoms, usually not begining until 6-12 hours after ingestion. Symptoms at two hours or less indicate a far less serious case of mushroom poisoning.

Edible wild mushrooms, including edible amanita species (i.e., non-toxic amanitas), are sold in markets and eaten around the world. Sometimes homesick immigrants try to duplicate what they knew and ate at home while living in a new land.

Many people all over the world safely collect and eat mushrooms from the wild. But mushroom knowledge doesn't travel well from place to place. Don't eat what you can't positively identify!

These are tragic mistakes, and my heart goes out to the victims and their families.

To learn more about wild mushrooms, which are both beautiful and essential to the health of our forests, and to learn how to SAFELY eat them, contact a local mushroom society. You can find a link to all of the California mushroom clubs on the BAMS home page here:

www.bayareamushrooms.org

Debbie Viess "

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Mrs. S. wrote on Nov 21, 2009 12:26 PM:

" I wonder if any of these people will need a liver transplant?

I just hope they won't hold the City of Lodi responsible for their own lack of common sense and sue. Most, if not all, people who love gourmet food and mushrooms know to leave wild mushroom harvesting to the experts. These people did a very foolish thing. "

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mee thinks wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:54 AM:

" i would never ever ever eat mushrooms that did not come from the store or are served in a restaurant. Even if these people aren't from Lodi,,, don't eat stuff you pick from a local lake or other area unless you have a death wish. We cannot label everything in the nature area... just be smart and don't eat it. "

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dogs4you wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:26 AM:

" Hope they have a good insurance plan, or is this on Mr.& Mrs. Taxpayer since their care will cost allot. "

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