Once a popular table staple, experts now warn against this fungus.

Author: prepared by JKB • Source: Rynek Zdrowia • Published: September 19, 2025 21:47

Many years ago, the "olszówka" (curled cowberry) enjoyed considerable popularity among mushroom pickers. It was admired for its flavor and aroma, but recently it has disappeared from Polish tables for good. It turns out that this "delicacy" is actually highly toxic.

Experts warn: this mushroom is toxic.

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It's a reminder that in the past, the alder mushroom was considered edible, but subsequent research changed its classification. It turns out that this mushroom contains involutin , a toxin that accumulates in the human body. It has a destructive effect on red blood cells, and long-term exposure can lead to serious illnesses, even leukemia.

Moreover, the effects of consumption may not be felt until many years later – even two decades later. Furthermore, according to Fakt, olszówka also contains muscarine , an alkaloid that acts much more quickly – symptoms of poisoning may appear 15–30 minutes after consumption: nausea, shortness of breath, blurred vision, or speech difficulties.

However, the aforementioned involutin poses a significant risk, and the first symptoms of poisoning may not appear until 24–48 hours after consumption. The toxin contained in the mushroom is said to cause serious damage to the body, which may not become apparent until years later. Therefore, experts warn against picking alder mushrooms, as there is no effective treatment for involutin poisoning.