[hmwe46]

DH and I decided to do a "date night", headed off to Whole Foods to find something to cook, and came back with a Chillean Sea Bass filet and bunch of (what we thought) morel mushrooms for $30 a lb!!

As I was washing them, I nibbled some raw, but then we started to wonder about the stems, they seemed different that what we remembered from our one other encounter with morels.

So DH googled Morels and came up with False Morels, a DEADLY and highly toxic shroom:

http://thegreatmorel.com/mush/false1.html

It looked identical to what we were preparing (see attached).

I started to get scared, called Whole Foods but they insisted the shrooms were Morels.

I called my Dad and he said NO WAY were those Morels.

So I called the Poison Control center and as soon as they saw our pics they were very concerned. I mentioned that I had a poison kit and the Dr walked me through taking Active Charcoal

The Poison Center called back with a CONFIRMED Gyromitra Esculenta id on the pics we sent.

Whole Foods continues to deny it, and the distributor "The King of Mushrooms" is only speaking with Whole Foods.

I feel ok, but scared

Just had to share...

[pinky_ohana]

I hope everyone is ok. I'm pretty sure you're still shaken since you sound like it.
Good thinking on looking it up.

Whole Foods didn't ask to see it or have you bring it back?
That concerns me, since we love to shop there.
It would have been really sad if not-so-savvy eaters like me bought it and would have not known the difference... Scary.

[hmwe46]

Thanks for the well-wishes Pinky.

I am APPALLED at our local Whole Foods (Northern California).

They had no idea what mushrooms they put out, I had to PRESS to get them to tell me the type of Morel: they said it was a Snow Cap. Excuse me, a Snow Cap is a BUTTON!!!

They were sooo nasty and refused to acknowledge that they were not Morels.

Their regional manager was much better though and I told her I would call tomorrow.

Yeah, I am sorta freaked out still

[scarlett_2005]

If the manager doesn't do anything I would contact the health department.

This is really scary! Glad to hear that you are okay.

[hmwe46]

The Health Department is already involved: I suspect by tomorrow this may be on the news. I hope it is: who knows HOW MANY people the King of Mushrooms sold to or how many Whole Foods got them, or who ate them!!!

[Sina]

That's really scary! Something needs to be done ASAP before other people buy it and get seriously ill.

[hmwe46]

I know!!!

I still can't believe it.

You don't just put out unknown species of shrooms.
And if you don't know a POISON mushroom from a MOREL and you work in produce you potentially if not accidently putting people at risk for liver failure, kidney failure, and death.

[soCurious]

Omg that must be a scary experience, it's good that your okay..why would they sell such a thing?!!

[Sternchen]

How scary!

I really hope that the news does catch wind of this so that others who may have bought these mushrooms will hear about it BEFORE consuming them and possibly putting their lives in danger!

[mello_yello_jen]

WOW!! I cant believe the distributor isn't working with you on this! I mean isnt there a lot/batch number on the packaging so that they can recall it immediately if necessary?!! Why are they only working with Whole Foods?! Both the actions of Whole Foods and Kings of Mushroom is ridiculous!!

Do keep us updated on this!! I'll keep my eyes peeled when I watch the news tomorrow!

[amanda]

If you don't get satisfactory results from the regional manager tomorrow, call the media. seriously.

[GUNG]

This is INSANE! I am so sorry you had to go through that. Ultimately, I am glad you are okay, but WOW, you must be pissed!

[ArmCandyLuvr]

Thank goodness you didn't eat too many and end up in the hospital or worse! You truly have a guardian angel on your side! It doesn't surprise me that Whole Foods is trying to downplay or deny this. They are afraid of bad publicity or a lawsuit. They should worry about someone eating some of those mushrooms and dying!

[itzme]

Goodness, I'm glad you're okay and that you noticed the difference quick enough! Wholefoods and the districbutor is handling it ridiculously. Isn't proof from the poiison center enough proof?

[pinky_ohana]

Originally Posted by hmwe46

Thanks for the well-wishes Pinky.

I am APPALLED at our local Whole Foods (Northern California).

Whoa! Northern California is very close to home. We shop at the one in San Mateo.

Hope you're are feeling better. Whole Foods really needs to look into the shrooms and get it pulled off the produce aisle before someone else consumes it.