A Victorian coroner has warned residents of the dangers of eating wild mushrooms following the death of an elderly woman who foraged a poisonous variety from her garden.
Loreta Maria Del Rossi died at Eastern Health Wantirna in May this year from multi-organ failure from amanita poisoning, the toxin found in lethal ‘death cap’ and yellow-staining mushrooms.
The 98-year-old, who lived with her adult son, grew her own vegetables and regularly collected wild edible grasses such as dandelion and milk thistle.
The yellow-staining mushroom is often confused for edible mushrooms that can be purchased in supermarkets and isthe most commonly eaten poisonous mushroom in Victoria.
The death cap mushroom is usually whitish, yellow, pale brown or green in colour and often grows under oak trees.
Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain said the Victorian Department of Health produces a variety of resources about the dangers of foraging wild mushrooms.