Wild Mushrooms - The Russian Roulette of the Food World - Jim Roettger

							            Wild Mushrooms
         The Russian roulette of the
                food world
          By Jim Roettger, Compliance Officer, MDA




          Wild vs. Cultivated                              Eating wild mushrooms
                                                     • Personal choice, nothing wrong with it if
• Wild Chanterelles, morels, puff balls etc.           you are informed.


• Cultivated button, shitake, portabellas,           • In market based sales most people are not
  oyster.                                              informed of the risks.


• When in doubt ask for proof.                       • They assume food purchased at public
                                                       markets are safe.




   MN Agriculture Perspective                                        Problems
• Allow sales to a limited degree but restrict       • No central data base of pickers.
  this to morels from certified pickers.
                                                     • Sale to the back doors of markets and
• Require other mushrooms must come                    restaurants.
  from commercial sources.
                                                     • Many states license only from a
• All sources must show certification and in           conservation standpoint not food safety.
  some cases licensure.




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                Problems                                            Risks
• No central regulation by FDA and no            • Severe abdominal distress.
  agreement from the conference of Food
  protection, only guidance.
                                                 • Liver and kidney failure sometimes
• Varying requirements of States.                  requiring transplant.

• A willingness on the part of industry to buy   • Slow painful death/ no antidote.
  and sell the product.




                   Risks                                      Requirements
• Litigation, loss of your business.             • Must be certified to sell morels. Currently
                                                   only one person is certifying. The certifier
• Criminal charges.                                must be acceptable to MDA.


• Facing the person you injured or their         • If you harvest from other than your own
  family if they die.                              land you must be licensed by MDA as a
                                                   wholesalers or retailer.




          Things you can do                                Things you can do
• Talk to the market master at all farmers’
  markets.                                       • Conduct and internet search of sellers
                                                   once a month. Know what’s being sold.
• Talk to the restaurants operators and
  Chefs. Review their menu.                      • Talk to the trade associations.

• Checkout the COOPs and high end                • Push for debate and legislation.
  markets for sales.




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Four reasons not to eat wild
        mushrooms




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