What happens when you eat the deadly mushroom suspected of killing three people in Leongatha
What happens when you eat the deadly mushroom suspected of killing three people in Leongatha
- Killer mushroom causes serious symptoms
- The will mushroom leads to kidney and liver failure
- No known cure for toxin in dead cap mushrooms
The skull mushroom believed to be the ingredient that tragically killed three Victorians is one of the most poisonous food sources in the world with horrific effects on the human body when eaten.
This is reported by a source familiar with the incident Guardian Australia that the infamous lunch behind the suspected poisoning included a beef wellington pie as the main course.
The lunch dish killed three people and one man fought for his life.
Deathcap mushrooms are one of the deadliest foods in the world after three people in Victoria died of suspected mushroom poisoning after it was revealed that the dish that fatally killed the victims was a beef wellington pie
Common beef wellington pie recipes often call for mushrooms to be included with the meal, with some suggesting chestnut or wild varieties.
The poison in the deadly mushroom causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after it is consumed – but the damage to the human body can be much worse.
The toxin in the mushroom, known as a-Amanitin, also called the silent killer, also damages the liver and kidneys.
The chemical composition of the fungi causes these organs to fail, leading to the person’s death.
Most people who consume the mushrooms – known as Amonita phalloides – die within six to 10 days.
The wild mushrooms contain a dangerous toxin that can cause kidney and liver failure, as well as more immediate symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Michael Robertson, an independent director of Forensic Consulting who has analyzed toxic substances for years, told the BBC ABC news the harmful effects of the mushroom on the human body are not immediately felt.
‘It’s a bit like paracetamol in that sense. You can overdose on acetaminophen and you can get a little sick for a day, and then you recover,” said Dr. Robertson.
He said that the toxin from the wild mushroom slowly starts to stop the liver from working.
“But what happens in the body is you get liver toxicity, and that’s when people die,” he said.
The deadly compound in the mushroom prevents a vital chemical in the liver known as RNA polymerase II, which decodes our DNA, from blocking the drug.
The power of the deadly toxin overwhelms the protein produced by the liver, causing serious illness.
The time it takes for people to get sick from eating the magic mushrooms can vary.
Experts say the mushrooms are silent killers because people who have eaten them will not get sick until the toxin in the mushroom, which is contained in the cap, ring and gills, takes over the person’s body and can lead to death.
According to NSW Healthpeople may feel unwell for between half an hour and several hours.
It can also take several days for people to report being unwell and go to hospitals for emergency care.
The deadly toxin in the mushroom resides in the cap and gills of the vegetable. The substance is also contained in the ring at the end of the mushroom stem.
There are no known remedies to treat people who have eaten wild mushrooms. Kidney and liver treatments are needed if the person becomes seriously ill.
Cooking the vegetable does not remove the dangerous poison from the vegetable. People have been urged to buy mushrooms sold in supermarkets.
In 2012, two people in Canberra died after eating skull mushrooms at a New Year’s Eve dinner.