Bhutan Birding and Heritage Travels

Breaking a common Bhutanese myth, the national mushroom centre’s (NMC) programme director, Dawa Penjore, says that adding thingay (black pepper) to an unidentified mushroom will not make it safe for consumption. Many Bhutanese believe that naming an unidentified mushroom or adding thingay will make it safe for consumption.

“Be wary of what you eat,” says Dawa Penjore. “Just because an animal consumes a certain mushroom and doesn’t die, doesn’t mean you won’t as well.”

With a warmer and wetter climate this year, mushroom harvesters are expecting a bountiful season, but JDWNRH forensics specialist Dr Pakila Drukpa wants to remind them and consumers of a fundamental rule in dealing with this either delicious or deadly fungus, “If you’re not sure what it is, don’t eat it,” he said.

Although records are not maintained of how many people suffer or die of mushroom poisoning every year, “it does occur from time to time,” says Dr Pakila. The latest incident involved a 67-year-old woman, who died on June 21 in Mongar after eating poisonous mushrooms.

Dawa Penjore says, mushroom harvesters, especially young children, could pick up similar looking but poisonous versions of safe mushrooms, which could either end up in their meals, or for sale, at the market or roadside.

NMC has already identified a slightly poisonous mushroom being sold at the vegetable market in Thimphu, the Ting Shamu or Gomphus Floccocus. But because NMC did not have the power to regulate sales of the fungi, nothing could be done, said Dawa Penjore. “It’s not a high risk mushroom, but it could happen with more poisonous mushrooms,” he said.

Dawa Penjore said the NMC was understaffed and, with only one employee with mushroom expertise, it was a challenge to monitor the market.

There are about 250-300 species of mushrooms in Bhutan, of which around 30 or more could be poisonous.

The symptoms of mushroom poisoning are profuse sweating, vomiting and diarrhoea. “If you suspect you’re suffering from mushroom poisoning, go to the nearest medical facility immediately,” says Dr Pakila. Taking along a sample of the mushroom would also aid medical staff in rapid treatment as the symptoms are common and could be misdiagnosed.

If you cannot make it to a medical facility, Dawa Penjore advises that vomiting be induced while increasing the intake of fluids.