Mushroom foraging in Australia: Is it safe?

In Australia, authorities strongly advise against eating mushrooms that have not been expertly identified or purchased from a supermarket or grocer, as some fungi can be toxic or deadly if consumed. In each State and Territory, rules and regulations vary, and mushroom foraging is not allowed in some areas.

Red & white Fly Agaric fungi mushroom Amanita muscaria Credit: Moment RF / Rhisang Alfarid/Getty Images

Key Points

• There are an estimated quarter of a million unique species of mushroom in Australia.
• Identifying edible species of mushrooms in Australia requires caution and expertise.
• Fatal Death cap mushrooms are extremely difficult to distinguish from other wild mushrooms and can resemble edible species.