Foraging for mushrooms is a great way to get out in nature, experience the mellowest thrill-of-the-hunt ever, and enjoy some fungal delicacies, but it can be quite dangerous, as we are sometimes reminded. Today’s LA Times has the story of 82-year-old Angelo Crippa who died earlier this month after eating a plate of so-called “death angel” mushrooms he found in the hills near Santa Barbara. From the Times:
Known as “death angel” for its snow-white appearance, the fungus has deadly toxins that worked their way through Crippa’s system, sickening him and eventually causing his liver to fail.
Crippa’s wife said she saw the life-long mushroom hunter sautee and eat his find on Feb. 26.
“He really ate a lot of them,” she said. “He said they were the best mushrooms he had ever eaten.”
Crippa died seven days later.
Man, 82, dies from eating wild mushrooms [LA Times]
Previously:
Regret The Error: Co Co Times And The Poisonous Mushroom [MenuPages: San Francisco]
[Photo: Via Wikipedia]
