Poison control center: Almost three times as many mushroom inquiries in August

The number of inquiries about mushroom poisoning has risen significantly this summer. This is according to the latest figures from the Joint Poison Information Center of the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia in Erfurt. According to the figures, there were 62 calls in August alone due to suspected poisoning following the consumption of collected mushrooms. That was almost three times as many as in the same month last year (21). Most of the inquiries came from Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Experts believe this was due to the previous wet weather.

In the first half of 2025, 151 people called the poison control center due to suspected mushroom poisoning. The main season for edible mushrooms such as porcini mushrooms, chestnuts and halli mushrooms runs from September and sometimes into November. During this time - depending on the weather - the number of calls to the Poison Control Center also increases.

Dangerous doppelgangers in the forest basket

According to the information provided, this year's poisonous mushrooms included hay fertilizer mushrooms, cracked mushrooms, panther mushrooms, carbole mushrooms and tuber leaf mushrooms. Some species, such as the hay fertilizer mushroom, which often grows in meadows and is frequently tried by small children, only cause mild gastrointestinal complaints. On the other hand, button mushrooms - which contain the toxin Amanitin - can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea and fatal poisoning.

As in previous years, it has not always been possible to clearly identify the type of mushroom. There are particularly frequent cases of confusion between edible and poisonous species - for example between pearl mushrooms and panther mushrooms or between button mushrooms and the Karbolegerling.