	AllExperts > Food Safety Issues
	Search

About Carol Schlitt
Expertise
I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).

Experience
I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Organizations
International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.

Education/Credentials
BS - University of Illinois MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Protecting your Home and Family > Food Safety Issues > Safety of picking musrooms

Food Safety Issues - Safety of picking musrooms

Expert: Carol Schlitt - 10/15/2009

Question
How can you tell if a mushroom is safe to pick? Are storebought mushrooms always safe?

Answer
Hi Abby,

As I am not a mushroom expert I will not be able to answer the first part of your question as to how to tell which mushrooms are safe to pick. Personally, though, I would investigate the mushrooms in your area, talk with individuals who actively go mushroom hunting and only pick those that you can 100 percent identify that are edible. A field guide to mushrooms would be very handy to take along for identification purposes.

However, your second question I can answer. Yes, all mushrooms offered for sale must be known edible varieties that are non-poisonous. Most mushrooms offered for sale in stores are grown commercially in caves and are not the wild type that individuals hunt. If you purchase mushrooms from an individual, however, you are at the mercy of their ability to identify and pick only non-poisonous varieties.

Happy Mushrooming!

Carol

Ask a Question