Northern California sees huge spike in mushroom poisonings as expert fears hippy tourists are foraging the potentially deadly fungus for dinner

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:50, 14 May 2026 | Updated: 21:53, 14 May 2026 California is experiencing an '​​unprecedented outbreak' in mushroom poisonings as health officials fear tourists are harvesting the fungi to eat. There have been 47 cases of severe illness, including four deaths, associated with the consumption of poisonous wild mushrooms since November 18, according to the California Department of Public Health. On Tuesday, Napa County officials announced that three adults, who were not residents of the area, were hospitalized over the weekend after eating poisonous wild mushrooms foraged in the Deer Park area. 'Recent rains have contributed to the resurgence of poisonous wild mushrooms in California, including in Napa,' Napa County Public Health Officer Dr Christine Wu said in a statement. 'Poisonous mushrooms can look and taste similar to safe mushrooms, and even experienced mushroom hunters have been affected by this outbreak.'  Data from the state health department indicated that a majority of the people poisoned identified Spanish as their preferred language, leading experts to believe tourists are foraging the dangerous mushrooms. 'It's not uncommon for people who have foraged in other parts of the world successfully to come to a new place where there's different types of mushrooms around it or something that looks like something that was edible before but really isn't,' Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System, told SFGATE. 'I don't know why that would be more prevalent this year than other years, but it does seem like those communities are particularly at risk.' There have been 47 cases of severe illness, including four deaths, associated with the consumption of poisonous wild mushrooms, including the Death Cap Mushroom (pictured) in California since November 18 Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System, warned that tourists are forging the fungus because it may look like safe ones from their home countries The cities and counties with hospitalizations include ​Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Yuba. 'These cases are a continuation of a mushroom poisoning outbreak that began in November and is continuing for longer than usual. It is also unusually large and widespread,' Smollin said.  In January, Contra Costa County officials told the SFGATE that a Hispanic man in his 60s was the latest to die from wild mushroom poisoning.   The state health department identified Death Cap and Western Destroying Angel mushrooms as the poisonous fungi being harvested.  'Poisonous mushrooms can look and taste similar to safe mushrooms. Some may resemble mushrooms that you can buy in a grocery store,' the California Department of Public Health said. 'Newly arrived persons to California who are accustomed to foraging in their home country may mistake poisonous mushrooms in California for safe mushrooms foraged or cultivated in their native country.' Smollin warned that foragers should exercise caution when they go out to pick wild mushrooms. 'When you go into the wild and decide to forage, you're taking a risk. And unless you have really a lot of experience, the risk is that you could pick a mushroom that could change your life forever,' he said. Officials identified the Western Destroying Angel as another type of poisonous mushroom people are consuming On Tuesday, Napa County officials announced that three adults, who were not residents of the area, were hospitalized over the weekend after eating poisonous wild mushrooms 'Ending up with a liver transplant is a life-changing event. Medications for the rest of your life, you have gone through a huge surgery, it's a big deal.' The California Department of Public Health has advised that the best way to stay safe is to not eat wild mushrooms. ​Cooking, boiling, freezing or drying poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat, the department noted. Symptoms may not appear until 6 to 24 hours after eating a poisonous mushroom, and even mild symptoms can be the beginning of a more severe reaction. No comments have so far been submitted. 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