Australian commercial mushroom farms 'safe', industry says after fatal Leongatha lunch

Australia's mushroom industry says it is "absolutely impossible" that a grower could produce poison fungi. Key points: The Australian Mushroom Growers Association says producers take no risks with public health and safety standards Small-scale exotic mushroom producers say they are "copping it" at farmers' markets Woolworths and Coles both say they have had no reports of illness or mushroom recalls Supermarket suppliers of mainstream mushroom varieties and exotic fungi producers argue they operate to the highest safety standards, and there is no chance toxic mushroom varieties could wind up in stores. With the fungi industry growing every year, Australian Mushroom Growers Association deputy chair Georgia Beattie said producers were taking no risks with public health. "It is absolutely impossible for a poisonous mushroom to be grown in an Australian Agaricus bisporus commercial farm," said Ms Beattie, referring to the most commonly grown species of edible mushroom. "We work with reputable mushroom suppliers who uphold the highest food safety standards, and we have not received any reports of illness from customers," a Woolworths spokesperson said.