Suspected poisoning — what to do

Call emergency services straight away if the person shows any of these red-flag symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness or drowsiness
• Seizures or fits
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
• Severe abdominal pain
• Confusion
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction

Tell the ambulance crew what the person may have eaten. If you have a sample or photo, have it ready to show paramedics or at hospital.

If the person is awake, breathing normally and has no emergency symptoms, but you suspect they may have eaten something poisonous, get urgent medical advice:

• In England, call 111 or use NHS 111 online (opens in a new tab)
• In Scotland or Wales, call 111 (NHS 24)

Do not wait to feel ill. Some poisons act with a long delay. Call for advice even if the person seems fine right now.

• Keep the person calm and comfortable
• Do not try to make them sick unless a health professional tells you to
• If they are unconscious, place them in the recovery position (on their side, head tilted back to keep the airway open)
• Keep a sample of the mushroom or plant and any uneaten remains. Store fungi in a paper bag, not plastic, to preserve it for identification
• If the person has been sick, keep a sample if safely possible
• Note down when it was eaten and when symptoms started
• Take photos of where it was growing (if you found it) and any packaging

The most dangerous wild fungi poisoning comes from eating amatoxin-containing species like the death cap, destroying angel, and funeral bell. These often cause delayed symptoms — sometimes not appearing until 6–24 hours after eating.

This is why getting professional advice quickly is essential, even if the person feels better. Hospital testing and treatment can prevent organ damage.

Contact your vet or an emergency vet straight away. If possible, keep a sample of what the pet may have eaten. Many wild fungi are toxic to dogs and cats, and vets need to know what was ingested to provide the right treatment.

Keep all wild fungi and foraged plants away from pets and children, even if they look harmless or taste unpleasant.

The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and its TOXBASE database provide clinical toxicology advice for healthcare professionals only.

Members of the public should use 999 or NHS 111, not these services directly. See all safety guidance for more on safe foraging.