Mushrooms are sporadic and sometimes unpredictable fungi. Like all foodstuffs that refuse to obey the rules, certain pickings have inspired certain myths as to their discovery, collection and classification that have been handed down from father to son. However, many of these myths are false and may lead to serious mistakes.
All poisonous mushrooms have bright colours
The most poisonous mushroom we have, the amanita phalloides or death cap mushroom, has an appearance very similar to an edible variety. Only mushrooms about which there is absolutely no doubt should be picked and consumed.
Death cap. Amanita phalloides
TOPThe garlic test
There are those who believe that the garlic test is infallible: if you put garlic, a potato or a silver spoon in the basket and they turn black it means the mushrooms are toxic. This is an old wives’ tale that has no scientific foundation and is simply not true.
It is easy to distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones
There are no general rules to distinguish with certainty toxic mushrooms from edible ones. Consume only those that you have identified without any doubt whatsoever.