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Be Wary of Wild

Foraging for wild mushrooms is an art, and a dangerous one if you’re not educated. Some wild mushrooms are highly toxic and look very similar to edible mushrooms. The American Association of Poison Control Centers in Washington, D.C. recommends, "People not forage for wild mushrooms unless they are, in fact, experts, or the person identifying the mushrooms is someone with whom they trust their life." The Mushroom Council also cautions against using the word "wild" on menus. Since there have been some highly publicized cases of wild mushroom poisonings in recent years, the term "wild" may actually frighten some customers and prevent them from ordering a menu item. Consider other terms that carry the same marketing power such as "exotic" or "specialty" mushrooms.