Overview

• Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr. Christian McGrath, has issued a formal alert warning against picking and consuming wild mushrooms unless by experts.
• Toxic varieties such as death cap and yellow-staining mushrooms thrive during the cooler, wetter autumn months and can be fatal if ingested.
• Residents are advised to remove wild mushrooms using gloves, seal them in bags, and dispose of them in closed general waste bins to minimize risks to children and pets.
• Initial symptoms of poisoning include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with severe cases potentially leading to organ failure and death.
• Victorians are reminded that only commercially sourced mushrooms are safe to eat, and 24-hour poison control assistance is available via the Victorian Poisons Information Centre and Animal Poisons Helpline.