Plant & Mushroom Poisoning
Why a photo or phone app cannot tell you a wild mushroom or plant is safe, what a 2023 study of three apps found, and the urgent steps after a possible exposure.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
If someone has eaten a wild mushroom or plant and has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken, call 911 now. [1] Otherwise call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. [2] Outside the US, see Poison help by country.
This page gives risk information and urgent steps only. It does not teach identification or foraging, and this site will not identify a mushroom or plant from a photo.
Plants and mushrooms can poison
The NHS lists "certain plants and mushrooms" among the common causes of poisoning. [3] MedlinePlus includes household and outdoor plants, and says symptoms may take time to develop, so do not wait for them. [4]
A photo or an app is not a safety check
Researchers in Australia tested three popular mushroom-identification apps. This is a research finding about those three apps, not a verdict on every tool.
| Question | What the study found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| How often did the apps name the mushroom correctly? | Using photographs of 78 specimens sent to a poisons information centre, the best app was right for 49% (95% CI 0 to 100), and the other two for 35%. [5] | Human-poison-centre dataset, small, wide uncertainty |
| What about poisonous mushrooms? | The best app correctly identified 44% of poisonous specimens; the others 30% and 40%. [5] | Same study |
| What did the authors conclude? | The apps "are not reliable enough to exclude exposure to potentially poisonous mushrooms when used alone." [5] | Authors' conclusion |
| Real-world harm? | The authors said they had seen an increase in poisonings after poisonous species were wrongly identified as edible using these apps. [5] | Clinical observation reported in the abstract, no numbers given there |
In plain terms: a wrong answer from an app can be mistaken for permission to eat. If you are not certain, do not eat it. For expert identification, use local mycological societies or university extension services, not an app. For the limits of naming and photos, see Species identification and naming.
After a possible exposure
- Do not wait for symptoms; they can take hours or days. [3]
- Do not make the person vomit. [1]
- Keep a sample of what was eaten, if you have it, and any vomit, for the professionals. The NHS advises taking some of the substance or its packaging to the hospital if possible. [3] MedlinePlus says that if the person has been sick from a plant part, saving the vomit may help experts. [4]
- Call Poison Help. Poison Control says its online tool and phone line cover flowers, leaves, berries and seeds as well as medicines and household products. [2]
More steps are on Mushroom, plant and berry ingestions: urgent steps.
Mushrooms and plants sold as remedies
Poisoning from foraged plants and mushrooms is a different problem from the quality of commercial mushroom or herbal products. For products, see Mushroom safety and Herb safety.
Pets
The ASPCA keeps a list of plants that are toxic and non-toxic to animals; it is for animals, not people. [6] See Pet and animal poisoning.
Frequently asked questions
Can an app tell me if a wild mushroom is safe to eat?
Not reliably. In a 2023 study of three apps, the best identified 49% of specimens correctly, and the authors said the apps are not reliable enough to exclude poisonous mushrooms when used alone. [5]
Should I wait for symptoms before calling?
No. Symptoms can take hours or days to start. [3] MedlinePlus also says not to wait for symptoms to develop. [4]
What should I keep for the doctors?
The NHS says to bring some of the substance or its packaging if possible, and to keep vomit in a container. [3]
Does Poison Help handle plant and mushroom calls?
Poison Control says its service covers flowers, leaves, berries and seeds. [2] Call 1-800-222-1222 in the US.
Can you help me identify what my child or pet ate?
No. We do not identify plants or mushrooms. Call Poison Help for a person, or a veterinarian for a pet, and keep a sample if you can.
References
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). First aid: Act fast!. Read 2026-10-22.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Need immediate assistance?. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS (United Kingdom). Poisoning. Page last reviewed 12 June 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Poisoning first aid. Review date 1/8/2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Hodgson SE, McKenzie C, May TW, Greene SL. A comparison of the accuracy of mushroom identification applications using digital photographs. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023;61(3):166-172. PMID 36794335. Read 2026-10-22.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. Read 2026-10-22.