Deadly mushrooms may have been sold in ACT

ACT health is investigating three cases of possible poisoning by Death Cap mushrooms which may have been purchased at a Canberra Woolworths store.

ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Paul Kelly said three patients from the same household had attended Canberra's Calvary Hospital in the last 48 hours, displaying symptoms of Death Cap mushroom poisoning.

All are now reported to be in a stable condition.

Dr Kelly said they claimed to have purchased mushrooms from the Woolworths supermarket in the suburb of Dickson on or around April 17. ACT Health and Woolworths are investigating the source of the mushrooms.

"This appears to be an isolated incident and there have been no other recent reports of Death Cap mushroom poisoning in the ACT," he said in a statement.

In Canberra in 2012, a man and a woman died and two others were poisoned but recovered after consuming a meal which featured wild Death Cap mushrooms.

"People are reminded not to pick and eat any wild mushrooms. It can be extremely difficult for even experienced collectors to distinguish Death Cap mushrooms from other edible mushrooms," Dr Kelly said.

The highly toxic Death Cap mushroom is a native to Europe but has spread around the world, with populations observed in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. It resembles a common edible variety used in Chinese cooking.