Sort immediately and boil twice. The Hygiene Center reminded about the prevention of mushroom poisoning

March 27, MINSK . The Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public HEALTH reminded about the prevention of mushroom poisoning, BELTA reports.

“With the onset of spring, spring mushrooms, well-known morels and strings, appear in forest glades and along roads. Many people forget that although they belong to the category of edibles, they are still conditional. These mushrooms must be pre-processed before being eaten.” , - noted in the center, while emphasizing that it is still better to refuse dishes with them. “Modern mycologists claim that the lines contain a strong poison, gyromitrin, which is not destroyed and does not turn into a decoction even when boiled for a long time. If the morels are not boiled, they will contain the hemolytic poison monomethylhydrazine,” the experts added.

In Belarus in 2023, 68 cases of mushroom poisoning were identified, in which 81 people were injured, 4 cases were fatal. The main causes of mushroom poisoning are the population’s ignorance of the species composition of mushrooms, non-compliance with the rules for their preparation and ignoring preventive measures.

The first signs of morel poisoning appear 6-12 hours after consumption, the center noted. In children and patients suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this period can be reduced to 2 hours. Characteristic signs of poisoning are stomach cramps, headache , vomiting, dizziness, and general fatigue. If you do not pay attention to these symptoms for a day or two, liver function is impaired. Therefore, when the first symptoms of mushroom poisoning appear, you should immediately call an ambulance or take the victim to the nearest medical facility.

To avoid mushroom poisoning, it is necessary to follow basic prevention rules. So, when going into the forest, you need to know the species composition of mushrooms and collect only edible mushrooms that are not in doubt. Mushrooms are a perishable product, they need to be sorted and sorted immediately. Sorting and preparing mushrooms should only be done by adults. When sorting through mushrooms, it is necessary to throw away the old ones, since when mushrooms age, complex chemical processes occur in their tissues with the formation of toxic substances.

You should avoid purchasing mushrooms outside markets, in places of unauthorized trade, not sorted by species composition, in sealed containers. Fungi have the ability to absorb toxic substances from the environment and accumulate in concentrations several times higher than their content in soil, water, and plants. Therefore, all mushrooms must be boiled and the broth drained. For the same reason, you cannot pick mushrooms along highways, near industrial enterprises, or within the city.

Conditionally edible mushrooms must be boiled at least twice, experts reminded. Both times, after cooking, the mushrooms should be washed with running water. And parents should remember that mushrooms should be excluded from their children’s diet. “People with liver and metabolic diseases and the elderly should not eat mushrooms,” the experts added. If poisoning occurs, do not consumeALCOHOL , as it enhances the absorption of toxins.