---
title: "Wild mushrooms: ANSA warns of poisoning risks "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/88599/wild-mushrooms-ansa-warns-of-poisoning-risks
published: 2026-10-31T07:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Gabriela Melnic"
section: "Social"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Wild mushrooms: ANSA warns of poisoning risks 

> Moldova’s National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has urged consumers to avoid unverified wild mushrooms and buy them only from authorised outlets, warning that poisonous species can resemble edible ones.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/0473200f-fbd7-4eaf-a381-c50e5ff50187.jpg)

Moldova’s National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has urged consumers to avoid unverified wild mushrooms and buy them only from authorised outlets, warning that poisonous species can resemble edible ones.

**Fresh-looking mushrooms are not necessarily safe**

Wild mushrooms are attracting growing interest at markets during the autumn season, but food safety officials warn that their appearance cannot guarantee they are safe to eat.

Consumers are advised to avoid buying mushrooms from unverified sources and choose authorised shops and market outlets where they can request documents confirming product quality and safety.

Some shoppers prefer supermarket products because they consider them safer than mushrooms picked in the forest.

*"I don't go looking for mushrooms in the forest. I simply buy them from shops, and only those that are certified,"* one consumer said.

*"I don't know enough about wild mushrooms. I only buy the ones I recognise, usually from shops,"* another shopper said.

Marina Dintiu, head of ANSA’s Directorate for Food Safety of Products of Non-Animal Origin, recommends caution when consuming wild mushrooms, despite their popularity and distinctive taste.

*"Health comes first,"* she said during the *Bună Dimineața* morning programme on Moldova 1.

**Traditional mushroom tests offer no protection**

Dintiu warned that traditional methods used to identify poisonous mushrooms are unreliable and cannot establish whether they are safe to eat.

Some people believe that adding onions or garlic to mushrooms while cooking can reveal whether they are poisonous if the ingredients change colour.

*"Some households use various methods, such as adding onions or garlic, and believe that if the onion turns purple or grey, the mushrooms are poisonous. This is not true,"* Dintiu explained.

Cooking and preserving mushrooms do not guarantee the removal of toxins. As a result, poisonous mushrooms can remain dangerous even after processing.

*"Even experienced mushroom pickers can make mistakes,"* the ANSA representative warned.

**Environmental contamination poses additional risks**

Even mushrooms generally considered edible can accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from the soil and surrounding environment.

This is why ANSA advises consumers to avoid collecting or buying mushrooms from areas exposed to pollution, particularly near busy roads and other potential sources of contamination.

*"Buying mushrooms from roadside vendors is extremely dangerous because these products are not subject to official checks,"* Dintiu explained.

Food safety specialists advise consumers not to judge mushrooms by their appearance or rely on traditional methods to test their toxicity.

They recommend buying mushrooms exclusively from authorised outlets where food safety requirements and official controls apply.

Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms after eating mushrooms should seek immediate medical assistance by calling Moldova's emergency number, 112.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/3ea83cac-d36d-4c23-8537-a1e0d9360a21.jpg)

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[Video: https://trm.blob.core.windows.net/photos/6c14cb6c-b82a-4b23-9440-263df04a9f32.jpg](https://original.trm.md/video/definst/MP4:2026/10/30/BDciuperci.mp4/playlist.m3u8)