Scientists Link Wealthy-Favored Superfood to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease
7 hours ago
- #False Morel
- #Neurotoxin
- #ALS
- A luxurious mushroom dish, the false morel, is linked to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in Montchavin, France.
- 16 out of 200 villagers developed ALS after consuming false morels for years, believing they had health benefits.
- False morels contain toxic hydrazines that metabolize into neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system.
- The ALS rate in Montchavin was far above the global average, prompting scientific investigation.
- Similar cases of false morel poisoning have been documented in Finland and the U.S., with symptoms ranging from vomiting to liver failure.
- False morels are often mistaken for true morels, which are safe to eat, due to their similar appearance.
- Finland requires restaurants to boil and rinse false morels multiple times before serving, but they remain risky to consume.