CDC investigation reveals that undercooked mushrooms caused two deaths and 50 illnesses at a Montana Asian restaurant.

A deadly fungal outbreak in Montana has been reported following an incident where 51 individuals were afflicted with gastrointestinal illness and two individuals succumbed to the illness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated an investigation after patrons of Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman reported symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain shortly after consuming their meals. The cause of the outbreak was traced back to undercooked morel mushrooms.

Although morel mushrooms are not inherently toxic, the toxins present in undercooked edible wild mushrooms were responsible for causing the illnesses. The CDC’s findings, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, detailed the severe symptoms experienced by those affected, including profuse vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration in hospitalized patients.

During a three-week period when the restaurant served a special sushi roll containing salmon and morels, 51 people fell ill, with three requiring hospitalization and two fatalities. The CDC identified that the consumption of morel mushrooms from China, which were imported fresh and not dried, was linked to the outbreak. Interviews and a ‘matched case-control’ study revealed that individuals who consumed morels experienced illness, while those who did not consume them remained unaffected.

Despite extensive testing on the mushrooms to identify the source of the illness, all results came back negative. Interestingly, six other restaurants that received shipments of morels from the same supplier reported no illnesses among their customers. It was observed that individuals who consumed less cooked mushrooms were more likely to become ill compared to those who consumed partially cooked mushrooms, highlighting the importance of proper cooking methods.

Morel mushrooms contain toxins, believed to be hemolysins, which can cause illness and potentially be fatal if not cooked thoroughly. Experts recommend cooking morel mushrooms thoroughly to reduce toxin levels and avoid illness. The importance of properly preparing and cooking mushrooms to ensure food safety cannot be overstated.

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