Thailand Warns of Poisonous Mushrooms During Rainy Season After 335 Illnesses and One Death

Thai health authorities are warning the public about the dangers of eating wild mushrooms during the rainy season after 335 cases of mushroom poisoning and one death were reported in Health Region 9 between January and September 21, 2026. Officials stress that cooking does not necessarily make poisonous mushrooms safe, as some toxins can withstand heat.

Dr. Sailak Pimkoh, Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 9, Nakhon Ratchasima, said the rainy season creates favorable conditions for wild mushrooms to grow naturally. While many species are edible, poisonous varieties can look remarkably similar to safe mushrooms, particularly when they are still young.

Health authorities are therefore urging people to follow a simple precaution: if you do not know the mushroom or are uncertain about its identity, do not pick, buy or eat it.

Poisonous and Edible Mushrooms Can Look Very Similar

One of the main concerns is the difficulty of distinguishing poisonous mushrooms from edible varieties based on appearance alone.

Authorities highlighted several potentially dangerous wild mushrooms, including poisonous Amanita species locally known by names such as hed ra-ngok phit, hed ra-ngok hin, hed ra-ngak or hed khai tai sak. Some can closely resemble edible white mushrooms commonly collected for food.

Other mushrooms cited as potential risks include varieties locally known as hed than lueat, hed mueak khrai lueang and hed muak chin.

Because appearance, color and shape can vary, authorities warn that previous mushroom-picking experience alone should not be considered sufficient evidence that a mushroom is safe to eat.

Traditional Tests Cannot Tell Whether a Mushroom Is Poisonous

Thai health officials are also warning against relying on traditional methods that are sometimes believed to identify poisonous mushrooms.

Common practices such as boiling mushrooms with rice, shallots or garlic and watching for color changes, placing silverware into a pot of cooking mushrooms, or assuming a mushroom is safe because insects or animals have eaten it cannot reliably determine whether it contains toxins.

Cooking is not a guarantee of safety either. Some mushroom toxins are heat-stable and may remain dangerous even after the mushrooms have been thoroughly cooked.

335 Cases and One Death Reported in Health Region 9

According to epidemiological data covering January through September 21, 2026, Health Region 9 recorded 335 cases of food poisoning linked to mushrooms and one death.

Chaiyaphum reported the largest number, with 188 cases and one death. Surin recorded 65 cases, Buriram 58 and Nakhon Ratchasima 24, with no deaths reported in those three provinces.

Cases were more frequently reported among women than men. People aged 65 and older represented the largest age group affected, followed by those aged 55–64. Agricultural workers growing field crops and vegetables were among the occupational groups commonly affected.

What to Do If You Develop Symptoms After Eating Mushrooms

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Anyone who develops unusual symptoms after eating mushrooms should seek medical attention promptly rather than waiting to see whether the symptoms improve.

Patients should tell healthcare professionals that they recently consumed mushrooms. If possible, they should bring leftover mushrooms from the meal or photographs of the mushrooms to help healthcare professionals identify the possible source of poisoning.

People who ate mushrooms from the same batch or meal should also be informed and advised to monitor themselves for symptoms.

Authorities specifically advise against attempting to induce vomiting or consuming raw egg whites to trigger vomiting, as these practices may increase the risk of aspiration and other complications.

Choose Mushrooms From Reliable Sources

To reduce the risk of poisoning, consumers are advised to purchase mushrooms from cultivated or reliable sources and avoid collecting unfamiliar wild mushrooms.

Wild mushrooms growing in areas where agricultural chemicals have been used should also be avoided. Mushrooms should not be consumed raw or undercooked.

Health authorities additionally advise caution when consuming wild mushrooms with alcohol because certain mushroom species can interact with alcohol and cause adverse reactions.

The key public health message is straightforward:

“If you don’t know it or aren’t sure, don’t pick it and don’t eat it.”

Anyone experiencing symptoms after eating mushrooms should seek medical care immediately. In Thailand, additional health information is available through the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.

 

Source : Thai Health Promotion Foundation