From the School Nurse 

Poisonous Mushroom Alert

On Tuesday 6th May 2025 the Victorian Department of Health, Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath issued a health alert regarding the dangers of eating potentially poisonous mushrooms.

During Autumn with weather becoming colder and having more rain it is the perfect conditions for mushrooms to grow in parks, in gardens at home and even in school grounds.

It is a great time to remind your children and students that they should not pick or eat these mushrooms and if they see them to report them so they can be removed.

There is no simple test to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms like the death cap and yellow staining mushroom. Cooking, drying or peeling mushrooms does not remove or inactivate the poison. The safest and best way to avoid consuming poisonous mushrooms is to eat only the mushrooms purchased at a supermarket or greengrocer.

Death cap mushrooms

Extremely poisonous and may result in death when consumed. 

Symptoms generally consuming appear within 6 to 24 hours after.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and associated stomach cramps/pain. Even if symptoms settle, you must seek medical attention, as the toxin has entered your system and can lead to liver and kidney failure in the following 2-4 days.

Yellow-staining mushrooms

This is the cause of most poisonings as it resembles the common field mushrooms.

It grows easily in the wet conditions and in large troops, it sometimes omits a chemical-like smell.

Symptoms are the same as the death cap mushroom.

If you suspect you or anyone in your care may have consumed a poisonous mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to start, call the Poisons Line immediately on 13 11 26 for advice.