CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning residents about a spike in amatoxin poisoning cases linked to foraged wild mushrooms.
The recent incidents have led to severe liver damage and one confirmed death.
According to CDPH, twenty-one cases of poisoning have been identified between mid-November and early December 2025, with clusters in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas.
The poisonings are associated with the consumption of death cap mushrooms, which are often mistaken for edible varieties.
Health care providers are urged to be vigilant for symptoms that mimic viral gastroenteritis, as these can precede fatal liver toxicity.
CDPH advises contacting the California Poison Control System for guidance on treating suspected cases.
Californians are strongly discouraged from foraging wild mushrooms. Death cap mushrooms, containing amatoxins, cannot be differentiated by taste from safe varieties and remain toxic even after cooking or drying.
Grace Ritz is a multimedia journalist at NewsWatch 12. You can reach Grace by emailing gritz@kdrv.com.