Northern California recorded 39 suspected amatoxin mushroom poisonings between November 2025 and March 2026, resulting in 3 liver transplants and 4 deaths, which is the largest mushroom-related liver-toxicity outbreak reported in California history. Poisonous death caps (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angels (Amanita ocreata) were frequently mistaken for edible mushrooms, with symptoms often appearing more than 6 hours after eating and progressing to liver failure within days. Even with medical treatment, amatoxin poisoning carries a 10–20% fatality rate, and cooking does not destroy the toxins. This stat shouldn’t be as scary as it should highlight that you shouldn’t eat any mushroom found unless you are 120% certain.