Amanita phalloides, commonly known as death cap mushrooms, have been recently detected growing in Sydney, the Southern Highlands and southern NSW.

NSW Poisons Information Centre senior specialist Genevieve Adamo said death cap mushrooms can be deadly if eaten.

Last year there were 23 hospitalisations for the toxic effects of ingested mushrooms, including two children aged under five years.

The NSW Poisons Information Centre handled 363 inquiries related to wild mushroom exposures in NSW and the ACT within the same year, marking a 26 percent rise from 2023.

So far this year, there have been 190 calls about poisonous mushrooms.

Professor Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, cautioned that determining the edibility of a wild mushroom is very challenging.

“There is no easy or reliable way to identify if a wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people against foraging for and eating wild mushrooms,” Summerell said.

“Cooking poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat.

“You should only eat mushrooms you buy from a reputable grocery store, supermarket or produce market.”

NSW Health and local councils have been conducting ongoing surveillance for death cap mushrooms for the last two years following an initial detection in Southern NSW.