US woman dies from poisoning after eating raw morel mushrooms from her favourite restaurant
Some foods are harder to digest than others, but we often trust restaurants to serve meals that won’t harm us. Unfortunately, this trust led to tragedy for Donna Ventura, a 64-year-old retired financial advisor from Bozeman, Montana. Donna became seriously ill after eating a special sushi roll topped with raw morel mushrooms at her favorite restaurant in April 2023. This decision ultimately cost her life.
Donna went to dinner with her husband, Jon, whom she had been married to for 34 years, and ordered a sushi roll topped with raw morel mushrooms. At first, everything seemed fine, but when they returned home, Donna started feeling unwell. Her condition quickly worsened—she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, where she went into cardiac arrest.
Doctors admitted Donna to the intensive care unit, where she spent two weeks hooked to a ventilator, unable to breathe on her own. During her final days, she was in immense pain. Her husband described her suffering, saying her body was swollen and her skin felt tight due to fluid buildup. Despite her struggle, Donna found the strength to scribble a heartbreaking message to her husband and son, Christopher:
“I don’t think I can or want to go on. How are we going to manage? I can’t stand the pain. I love you, Mr. C.”
Donna passed away 13 days after falling ill. Doctors discovered that her kidney and liver failure were caused by the toxins released by the raw morel mushrooms she had consumed. Morels, while considered a delicacy, contain a toxin called hydrazine, which is highly dangerous when consumed raw. Cooking morels typically reduces the toxin’s effects, but even cooked morels can upset the stomach, causing symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain.
Donna was not the only victim of the sushi roll. Fifty-one people became seriously ill after dining at Dave’s Sushi, the same restaurant. Another man, 74-year-old William Lewis, also died after eating there. Both families have since filed lawsuits against the restaurant. Toxicity tests were conducted on the restaurant’s surfaces, but they came back negative, leaving questions about how the outbreak occurred.
According to reports, incidents of mushroom poisoning linked to uncooked morels are not uncommon. Last year alone, there were 150 reported cases of illness caused by consuming uncooked morels. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with consuming certain raw or improperly prepared foods.
Donna’s story is not just about her passing but also about the impact on her loved ones. Her husband and son now face life without her, and her final words echo the pain and uncertainty they feel. Her death highlights the importance of food safety and the potentially devastating consequences when it’s compromised.
