Hi, I’m new here but was hoping to get some advice from people who know about these things. I think I might have stepped on what looked like a crushed, mushed mushroom on the floor in a field whilst walking my dog. (I’m based in the UK.) I’m worried that it might have been poisonous and if so, cou…

I’m not a mushroom expert, but, from what I’ve read/heard, you should not be worried. A thread with answer to this from more experienced mushroom folks is: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-worried-should-i-be-about-mushrooms-in-my-yard/44286

I wouldn’t worry about it. You can touch a toxic mushroom without a problem but just don’t eat them. Wash your hands to be extra careful.

You have a concern. Please wipe the soles of the shoes with a disinfectant wipe. Let them air dry before putting away. (Please check that the disinfectant will not harm your shoe, try in small area first)

Thanks, you’re right that I personally have a concern, but what I’m trying to ascertain is whether I should or not? Or if in reality this is a scenario I don’t need to worry about

Thank you for your reply. Do you therefore think that to touch something which might have come into contact with a mushroom and then proceed to eat without first washing hands would be ok?

This is not something to worry about. There are a few toadstools in the UK that are potentially lethal if eaten (the Death Cap speaks for itself), but none that is so hugely poisonous that just touching it is toxic, let alone touching something that might have touched it earlier. The danger is in ea…

Thanks for your reply. Do you think that holds true if you were to touch something that might have touched a mushroom and then eat say an apple with your hands? I know I sound absolutely paranoid but trying to navigate this thought process and ascertain whether or not it holds a legitimate concern …

Not to add to your concerns - but - the apple probably has agri-chemicals on it. Wash both apple and hands?

You’re fine. No mushrooms are dangerous just to touch, especially in trace amounts like that. Don’t go like rubbing destroying angels into your mucous membranes or anything, but just stepping on it, even if it was the mostly deadly mushroom in the world, isn’t going to do any harm.

Disinfectant is designed to kill germs, not inactivate toxic chemicals. I don’t think you are in danger here, but I would like to dispel the myth that you can disinfect inanimate chemicals

Stepped on mushroom

Nature Talk

lothlin October 24, 2023, 10:58pm 19

Did this five minutes ago :D

EDIT: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188838466 on this mushroom Did it help me figure it out? Maybe! Will I be able to ID it easily? Probably not without sequencing!

Fungi are great

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Stepped on mushroom

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