Dangers & Delicacies

Even though it’s already mid-October, I still found golden chanterelles shining under the fallen leaves in the forests of Vestfold.

The deadly ones are just as beautiful as the delicacies.

Every year, people in Norway suffer serious poisoning from eating wild mushrooms. Many of these cases involve visitors, tourists, or newcomers who trust their knowledge from home, only to misidentify toxic Norwegian mushrooms that look similar to edible ones in their own country.

When foraging in Norway, never rely on mushroom knowledge from elsewhere. Local species can differ in subtle but dangerous ways. Always use up-to-date Norwegian guides or ask professional mushroom experts before you cook or taste your finds.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has created a brochure about poisonous mushrooms, translated into 25 languages. It can be downloaded here: https://www.fhi.no/publ/brosjyrer/giftige-sopper/