Growers dispute poisonous mushroom claims after woman says she bought ingredient at local store

Mushroom growers have weighed in on the case of the beef wellington lunch that reportedly left three people dead.

Last week, the news broke that several people had mysteriously died following a family lunch in Victoria, Australia.

Erin Patterson had invited her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, along with Mrs Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband Reverend Ian Wilkinson, 68, to the meal on 29 July.

However, several days after the lunch, the four guests all fell seriously ill after eating a beef wellington.

Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Patterson both passed away on 4 August, and Mr Patterson died the following day (5 August).

Mr Wilkinson is still in hospital and is said to be in a critical condition while he awaits a liver transplant.

Police said the dinner guests displayed symptoms consistent with eating poisonous death cap mushrooms, but a toxicology report is still pending.

The beef wellington contained dried mushrooms Patterson says were purchased from an Asian store in Melbourne, along with additional button mushrooms from a supermarket chain.

Now the Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) has spoken out to dispute any suggestions that poisonous mushrooms could accidentally be purchased from an Australian store.

A Current Affair

They said in a statement: “The AMGA extends its deepest condolences to the families of the people affected by the recent tragedy in Leongatha and the entire Gippsland community.

“Given the recent focus on mushrooms, the AMGA feels it necessary to inform the public that commercially grown mushrooms, produced in Australia, are safe and high quality. If you want safe mushrooms, buy fresh, Australian-grown mushrooms.”

They added: “The species of commercially grown mushrooms found at Australia supermarkets and greengrocers are Agaricus bisporus.

“It is impossible that death cap mushrooms and other dangerous varieties could grow in commercial operations that produce Agaricus bisporus.”

Patterson has insisted she had nothing to do with the deaths of her former in-laws.

Family handout

She said she also fell ill after eating the meal and was rushed to hospital and given a 'liver protective drug'.

Her two children also ate leftovers from the meal, but she scraped off the mushrooms as they didn’t like them.

She added: "I had a deep love and respect for Simon's parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models.

"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."

The police investigation is ongoing.