There is a lot of false information about how to distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms. They usually cause fatal mistakes. Here are the most frequently repeated ones. Check if you know the myths about poisonous mushrooms.

Out of over 5,000 species of mushrooms found in Europe approx. 160 arepoisonous mushrooms . They contain toxic substances of varying strength.Symptoms of mushroom poisoningdo not have to appear right after eating. The ones that appear even after two days are the most dangerous. Check what myths are circulating about mushrooms and how far they are not true.

  1. Mushrooms are poisonous if the milk they are thrown into curdles up.FALSE. The acidification of milk is caused by pepsin and organic acids, which are found in both edible and poisonous mushrooms.
  2. Alcohol reduces the effects of toxins contained in mushrooms.FALSE. Even very strong drinks do not protect the body against the effects of poison. In some cases, they may even increase its effects. Mushrooms should not be mixed with alcohol at all, because it causes the protein contained in the mushrooms to stick together. And this makes them much more difficult to digest. This can result in a hospital stay and even death. Example: Blackbird (it is easy to mistake it for field mushroom) in combination with alcohol causes cardiac arrhythmia and often leads to collapse. Black bowls can be eaten when they are young (before they turn black) and only if no alcohol is consumed two days before and two days after tasting.
  3. All poisonous mushrooms smell and taste bad.FALSE. People who were saved after eating the most dangerous toadstool claim that it has a sweet and mild taste.
  4. If you put a silver spoon into boiling mushrooms and it darkens, it is a sign that the mushrooms are poisonous.FALSE. The change in color of the spoon is a result of the action of sulfur compounds on silver, which are abundant in mushrooms. These compounds are non-toxic, harmless to humans, and occur in edible and poisonous species.
  5. By boiling the mushrooms and pouring the water from them, we get rid of the poison.FALSE. The toxin in the toadstool is amanitin, which is rendered harmless only by the temperature of 300ºC. So, no form of home treatment of these toadstools destroys the poisons contained in them. It is ineffective toodrying, sprinkling with s alt and pouring boiling water over it, and marinating.
  6. Fungi bitten by animals are safe for humans.FALSE. Insects and animals have a completely different metabolism than humans. The fact that a given species of mushroom is eaten by animals is no proof that it is also edible by humans.
  7. If the onion added to the boiling mushrooms turns dark, it is a sign that the mushrooms are inedible.FALSE. The onions will darken, but not because of the poisons contained in the mushrooms, but because of the pigments. If cooked in beetroot, it would change color in a similar way.
  8. If the fungus changes color when broken or cut, it is poisonous.FALSE. Many species of mushrooms, including the edible ones, change color when cut. Most of the mushrooms turn gray, sometimes navy blue. This is the effect of the oxidation of the chemicals in the mushroom.
  9. Well-cooked mushrooms are a valuable food for children as they contain vitamins and minerals.FALSE. There are few vitamins and minerals in mushrooms. They can be easily delivered in other dishes. Forest mushrooms should not be given to children, the elderly, because they are difficult to digest - they contain chitin, which our digestive tract cannot digest.
Worth knowing

Mushrooms - Devil's SpawnAncient Romans considered mushrooms to be fumes of moist soil, because they appeared suddenly and it was not known what they were made of. They did not produce fruit or seeds, so they did not fit into the world of known nature. Until 1710, when the Italian scientist Antonio Micheli discovered the spores of the mushrooms, they were treated as devil's droppings, the work of dark forces.

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