Warning Wild mushrooms in Germany are often heavily contaminated with mercury

Health hazards caused by heavy metals: Many wild mushrooms loaded with mercury
In October, many Germans are on meadows and in forests on the way to collect tasty mushrooms. Research has shown, however, that wild mushrooms are more heavily contaminated with heavy metals than other foods. Above all, elevated mercury levels are a problem.

Wild mushrooms loaded with heavy metals
During the peak season for mushrooms - in September and October - is repeatedly pointed to possible poisoning risks of self-collected mushrooms. But not only confusion with poisonous varieties can be a problem, but also the burden of actually edible copies. For wild mushrooms are according to investigations more heavily loaded with heavy metals than other foods.

Because certain wild mushrooms naturally filter out heavy metals such as mercury from the soil, they are therefore more heavily loaded than other foods. Therefore, with regular consumption caution is necessary. (Image: Michael Tewes / fotolia.com)

In particular, mercury is filtered out of the ground
"Wild mushrooms such as porcini mushrooms, chanterelles, morels or mushrooms naturally filter heavy metals, especially mercury, out of the soil on which they grow," writes the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) in a recent release. "The burden of heavy metals is therefore high in comparison to other foods."

Consistently increased concentrations
According to the experts, tests in 164 wild-mushroom samples consistently showed elevated mercury concentrations. In two-thirds of cases, the amount was even above the legal maximum. As the mercury concentrated in dried mushrooms through the drying process, they were more heavily loaded than fresh mushrooms and canned food. In porcini mushrooms the highest mercury findings were made. The results of offices in the provinces in 2013 confirmed, according to the BVL, an earlier investigation.

According to health experts, poisoning with mercury, among other things, leads to kidney and liver damage. In addition, the toxic heavy metal is suspected to increase the risk of heart attack, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Radioactive strain
The communication further states that, due to the accident at Chernobyl in 1986, radioactive pollution was also possible. Depending on the region and soil type, fungi that grow in southern Germany may still be exposed to radioactivity.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) advises consumers to "consume no more than 200 to 250 grams of wild mushrooms per week when consumed regularly, given the increased heavy metal content and possible radioactive contamination. Children should eat less according to their body weight. "But it is safe to occasionally eat larger quantities of mushrooms. (Ad)