Overview

• Anses says 493 suspected mushroom poisonings were recorded by poison centers over the past 15 days, describing a strong increase this month.
• Authorities report risks ranging from severe digestive distress to kidney failure and liver damage that can require transplantation, with symptoms often appearing within 12 hours.
• France typically sees around 1,000 intoxications each year, and poison centers counted 1,482 cases from July to December 2023 including 23 serious cases.
• Wild mushrooms belong to the landowner, with tolerated personal picking in public forests generally capped at 5 liters, and penalties ranging from a €135 fine to up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for major theft.
• Guidance urges collecting only species known with certainty, avoiding polluted sites, cooking before eating, not serving children, and seeking checks from pharmacists or mycological societies when in doubt.