What we learned from the Montana Morel Poisonings in 2023: Are morels really safe to eat?

Presenter: Dr. Cathy L. Cripps, Professor Emerita, Montana State University

In April 2023, dozens of people were sickened and several died in incidents related to eating

morel mushrooms. This talk will walk you through the details of what happened, what we

learned, and how it might apply to your own consumption of morels. One incident involved a

party of river runners on a boat trip, two of whom ate a meal containing wild morels that had

been picked on a Montana burn. One person died and one survived. As if the universe was

screaming to get our attention, the second incident happened pretty much at the same time.

This case involved fresh, cultivated morels from China that were served at a restaurant in

Bozeman Montana. Over 50 people were sickened and two died. The autopsy reports were

similar, whether wild or cultivated morels were involved. What can we learn from these tragic

stories? Are morels safe to consume? Do we need to use more caution? What about those of

us who have eaten morels with impunity for many years—were we just lucky?

Register Here

April 29th, 2024

8 PM Eastern | 7 PM Central | 6 PM Mountain | 5PM Pacific