Toxic death cap mushrooms kill Northern California man amid statewide outbreak

The man may have mistaken the poison mushrooms for edible ones from his home country, health officials say.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:15am by Ben Kaplan

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An outbreak of toxic mushroom poisonings across California has killed a Contra Costa County man in the Bay Area, health officials said. A man in his 60s died after eating toxic mushrooms, possibly death cap mushrooms, foraged at a regional park in Contra Costa County. State health officials said poison mushrooms had killed three people and sickened 35 in California, with three requiring liver transplants as a result.

Why it matters

This outbreak highlights the dangers of foraging for wild mushrooms, as death cap mushrooms can be easily mistaken for edible varieties. The issue disproportionately affects immigrant communities who may be familiar with edible mushrooms from their home countries but not the toxic varieties found in California.

The details

The sickened Californians apparently ate foraged poisonous death cap mushrooms - scientific name Amanita phalloides - after mistaking them for 'familiar edible varieties.' Cooking, boiling, drying or freezing do not make the mushrooms safe to eat, and the first symptoms may not develop for 12 to 24 hours after they're ingested. Experts advise against foraging for wild mushrooms and recommend buying them from grocery stores or farmers markets instead.

  • On January 14, state health officials said poison mushrooms had killed three people and sickened 35 in California since November 18.
  • The Contra Costa County man in his 60s died after eating toxic mushrooms foraged at a regional park.

The players

California Department of Public Health

The state agency that reported on the mushroom poisoning outbreak.

Contra Costa County

The county where the man who died after eating toxic mushrooms lived.

Dr. Rais Vohra

Medical director of the Fresno/Madera Division of the California Poison Control Service.

Dr. Cyrus Rangan

A pediatrician and medical toxicologist with the California Poison Control Service.

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What they’re saying

“People can be fooled. They do look like other edible mushrooms, which gets people into trouble.”

— Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical director of the Fresno/Madera Division of the California Poison Control Service (modbee.com)

“It can be very hard even for experts to tell the difference between poison mushrooms and not.”

— Dr. Cyrus Rangan, Pediatrician and medical toxicologist with the California Poison Control Service (modbee.com)

What’s next

Experts advise that if you're concerned you or someone else has eaten a poisonous mushroom, call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 immediately.

The takeaway

This outbreak serves as a stark warning about the dangers of foraging for wild mushrooms, which can be easily mistaken for safe, edible varieties. The issue disproportionately affects immigrant communities, highlighting the need for greater education and awareness around this public health risk.