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Interior Health is warning people not to eat mushrooms sold at the Harrop community hall, near Nelson, on Sunday after concerns were raised that they may have been misidentified.
The health authority says the B.C. Drug and Poison Information Centre reviewed the mushrooms and determined they could be toxic.
People who bought mushrooms at the hall on Sept. 20 are being asked to dispose of them.
The mushrooms have been tentatively identified as Paxillus involutus, commonly known as brown roll-rim or common roll-rim mushrooms. Interior Health says eating the species can lead to serious health effects.
Symptoms can begin within about two hours and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dark-coloured urine, according to the health authority.
Anyone who has already eaten the mushrooms, or who develops symptoms after eating them, is being advised to seek medical attention immediately.
People can also contact the B.C. Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911 for advice.
Interior Health says vendors selling whole fruits and vegetables do not require a permit from the health authority.
The B.C. Drug and Poison Information Centre says identifying poisonous wild mushrooms can be difficult even for experts. It describes the sale of the wild mushrooms in Canada as an unregulated industry and advises people to be cautious when buying from vendors or other sources that cannot verify their knowledge of the mushrooms’ origin.
As of Sunday, Interior Health says it is not aware of any illnesses linked to the mushrooms.
The health authority says it is working to reach people who may have purchased them and will release more information if necessary.
