Mushroom poisoning and the effect on growers

The suspected mushroom poisonings in Victoria’s South Gippsland region has had a surprising effect on supermarket demand.

Demand for mushrooms at supermarket check-outs has lifted in recent weeks, despite the flurry of press surrounding a suspected mushroom poisoning in Victoria’s South Gippsland region.

But the suspected poisonings – which are being investigated following the deaths of three people – could be an opportunity for consumers to connect with mushroom producers and make sure they buy from reputable sources, one grower has said.

It is understood at the end of last month, Erin Patterson cooked a meal for four people which is believed to have contained poisonous mushrooms.

Three people – Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson – died after eating lunch at Ms Patterson’s Leongatha home on July 29 2023.

Erin Patterson, the homeowner of where the fatal lunch took place, arrived at her Leongatha property on Monday afternoon. Three people have died from eating mushrooms. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said the supermarket chain worked with “reputable mushroom suppliers who uphold the highest food safety standards, and we have not received any reports of illness from customers”.

It is understood customer demand for mushrooms at Woolworths has increased in recent weeks.

No mushroom products have been recalled from Woolworths stores.

A Coles spokesman said the supermarket adhered to “strict protocols to ensure the highest quality products”.

“Coles sells cultivated mushrooms, with various varieties on offer that are all suitable for human consumption. We do not sell any wild foraged mushrooms,” the spokesman said.

The Mushroom Connection founder Jason Crosbie sells gourmet mushrooms near Ballarat, and regularly sells his produce at local farmers markets.

He said recent press attention surrounding mushrooms was “a good opportunity” to articulate to consumers the importance of buying produce from a reliable grower.

“I have had a few messages from people about that story, and we’ve always tried to reinforce that notion that you should try and avoid picking them in the wild,” Mr Crosbie said.

“There are a lot of poisonous lookalikes out there.”