CHP investigates case of food poisoning
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The two patients, a man aged 16 and a woman aged 49, presented with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting three to four hours after having a dinner with porcini mushrooms purchased from a department store in Yau Ma Tei and cooked at home on June 24. Both patients were admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 25 and discharged on June 26 upon management. They have been in stable condition all along.
Investigation revealed that the uncooked mushroom samples contained a mixture of edible species and inedible or poisonous species.
The CHP has also alerted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to the incident and the investigations are ongoing.
"Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucination, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," a CHP spokesman said.
"We advise the public to buy mushrooms from reputable and reliable suppliers and not to buy mushroom products which may be mixed with unknown species. Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones. Mixing of edible species with inedible or poisonous species of mushroom will not dilute toxicity. Cooking in most cases does not destroy toxicity," the spokesman added.
"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:45
Issued at HKT 17:45
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