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French authorities are investigating whether dried morel mushrooms were linked to a woman’s death after she developed gastrointestinal symptoms on Nov. 2 and died the next day. Affected Champibon jars sold at B&M have been withdrawn and recalled; testing is underway, and consumers are being told not to eat the product.
French authorities are investigating whether dried morel mushrooms were connected to a woman’s death after she developed gastrointestinal symptoms hours after eating them on Nov. 2 and died on Nov. 3. Retailers have withdrawn and recalled the implicated Champibon 60-gram jars sold at B&M while testing is underway; officials have not confirmed that the mushrooms caused her death.
Health officials were notified at the start of November about the death following a severe poisoning case, potentially linked to dried morel mushrooms sold at a B&M store. The woman contacted her regional poison control and toxicovigilance center after symptoms began, then went to a nearby medical facility. She died the following day, according to the report.
The product identified in the recall is Champibon-brand dried morels, sold in a 60-gram jar at B&M, with a stated date of Dec. 1, 2029. The report says affected retailers initiated a withdrawal and recall. Consumers who have the implicated product are advised not to eat it, including after cooking, because it may remain toxic.
People who develop digestive symptoms, including vomiting or diarrhea, in the hours after eating the mushrooms are advised to contact a Poison Control Center immediately. The report does not identify the specific toxin, describe the woman’s medical treatment in detail, or provide results from tests on the product.
Recall Advice for Mushroom Buyers
The case has prompted a product recall while authorities assess whether the mushrooms were involved. For consumers, the immediate point is to check whether they have the specified Champibon jar and not eat it. The warning applies even if the mushrooms are cooked, according to the source report.
The reported timing of symptoms and death is part of the investigation, not proof of cause. Tests and official findings matter because they may establish whether the product was contaminated or otherwise unsafe, and whether the recall needs to be expanded. Until those results are reported, the connection remains under investigation.
The incident also comes during a period when French poison control centers have been recording many mushroom-poisoning cases. This makes clear public information about the implicated product and timely medical advice relevant beyond the individual investigation, while the available report does not establish that other illnesses are linked to these jars.
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Recent Mushroom Poisoning Reports
French mushroom-poisoning surveillance includes cases involving both gathered wild mushrooms and other circumstances. According to figures attributed in the report to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), poison control centers received reports associated with picking and eating wild mushrooms of nearly 500 cases in September 2026 and more than 200 in October.
The report says poison control centers recorded 1,300 mushroom poisonings in 2025, including one death and three liver transplants associated with Amanita poisoning. Surveillance has been year-round since 2025, although most reported cases occur during the July-to-December mushroom-picking season. These figures describe mushroom poisoning generally; they do not show that the current death is part of a wider outbreak.
Prior-year figures also show the scale of the issue: analysis of 2024 data found 1,363 people with symptoms contacted poison control centers after eating mushrooms between July and December, with three deaths reported. In 2023, 1,482 cases were recorded. The report lists several common circumstances behind poisonings, including mistaking a poisonous species for an edible one, improper storage, poor condition or insufficient cooking, eating too many, and incorrect identification by a smartphone app.
“The potential connection between consumption of the morel mushrooms, onset of symptoms, and the death is under investigation, with testing underway.”
— French health officials, as reported by Food Safety News
Cause and Test Results Pending
Authorities have not confirmed that the dried morels caused the woman’s illness or death. The reported sequence—eating the mushrooms, developing symptoms a few hours later and dying the next day—is part of the investigation, but timing alone does not establish causation.
Testing is underway, but the report does not give its scope, expected completion date, or any preliminary findings. It also does not state whether other people became ill after eating the product, how many jars were distributed, or whether the recall applies to stock beyond the specified brand, size and retailer. Local media identified the woman as a 27-year-old Montpellier resident named Marie-Lou; the report attributes those identifying details to local coverage.
Testing and Recall Updates
The next reported milestone is the outcome of authorities’ testing and investigation into the possible link between the mushrooms, the symptoms and the death. Any official findings could clarify the suspected hazard and inform whether additional consumer or retailer action is needed. No timetable for results is given in the available report.
In the meantime, consumers with the specified product should follow the advice not to eat it and check for further recall information from the relevant retailer or authorities. Anyone who develops digestive symptoms after eating the mushrooms should contact a Poison Control Center promptly. The number of people affected, if any beyond this case, remains unknown.
Key Questions
What happened to the woman?
According to the report, she developed gastrointestinal symptoms on Nov. 2, a few hours after eating dried mushrooms, sought medical care and died on Nov. 3. Authorities are investigating the circumstances.
Have authorities confirmed the mushrooms caused her death?
No. The possible connection is under investigation, and testing is underway. The available report does not provide results confirming a cause.
Which product has been recalled?
The report identifies Champibon dried morels in a 60-gram jar, sold at B&M, with a date of Dec. 1, 2029. Consumers with the implicated product are advised not to eat it.
Can cooking make the recalled mushrooms safe?
The reported consumer warning says the mushrooms may remain toxic after cooking. Cooking should not be relied on to make the implicated product safe.
What should someone do after eating the mushrooms and becoming ill?
Anyone who develops symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea in the hours after eating them should contact a Poison Control Center immediately, according to the reported advice.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
