FDA Warnings, Psilocybin and Weight, and a Mushroom Museum in Croatia

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🫁 A treatment for chronic bronchitis

• 🗞️ Boulder’s psilocybin moves

• 🏠️ The Museum of Mushrooms in Zagreb, Croatia

Hi Shroomer. Today is the first day of MycoFest! It’s the 10th anniversary, and I can’t wait to see some familiar faces and meet new friends.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Breathing easy 🫁 Cordyceps sinesis was found to effectively treat chronic bronchitis across a broad range of patients in a landmark study conducted across several top Chinese medical institutions. This study has been provisionally accepted.

Interesting, HPV 🤔 About 6 million new people are infected with HPV each year, affecting at least 50 percent of men and women at some point in their sexual lives. A comprehensive study involving 5,528 participants found that human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical fungi work together in relation to cervical cancer. They found that if a person has both HPV and fungi, they might have a lower chance of getting cervical cancer or the pre-cancerous changes (called lesions) compared to having just HPV alone.

Valley fever🚨 The California Department of Public Health issued a warning to over 20,000 attendees of the Lightning in a Bottle music festival who may have been exposed to the Coccidioides fungus. The infection has led to five reported cases of valley fever, three of which resulted in hospitalizations. It’s prevalent in California's Central Valley soil, and can cause severe respiratory symptoms and, in extreme cases, significant lung damage.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

The first 🥇 Spiritus Oregon became the first legal psilocybin edible company in the U.S. Operating under the Horizon Edibles brand, the Milwaukie-based company produces precisely dosed dark chocolates.

Birthplace of modern mindfulness 🌿 Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, now offers a state-approved psilocybin facilitator training certificate that aligns with the 2022 Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act.

Also in Boulder 🪨 The city is setting zoning restrictions for upcoming psilocybin healing centers, proposing prohibiting them within 1,000 feet of residential areas, classifying them similarly to medical offices but restricting their location to business and mixed-use zones.

Out of Many One People 🇯🇲 Jamaica will sell the first legal psilocybin products through a partnership with PATOO and Fontana Pharmacy. The range includes capsules, honey, chocolate bars, and gummies.

Warning bell 🔔 The FDA is still urging people to stop eating Diamond Shruumz brand edibles. As of July 29, the number of total illnesses reported rose to 78 in 28 states. 40 of those cases have been hospitalizations and two deaths are under investigation.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Mush more to offer 👕 Microbial dyes, highlighted by Dr. Mayurika Goel and Dr. Arvind Kapur, offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Derived from fungi, bacteria, and algae, these dyes are cost-effective, scalable, and possess unique properties like antimicrobial and anticancer benefits, making them key in eco-friendly textile production.

Out of office 🇨🇳 Edible fungus picking is a burgeoning tourist attraction in Yunnan, China, increasing tenfold over the past year, according to local guide "Mr. Lu in Dali." With bookings filling two-thirds of July's schedule, there’s been a 30% increase in hotel bookings in Dali.

Holy mushroom 😲 A gorgeously huge coral tooth mushroom was spotted by Andy Knotts of Jurassic Coast Mushrooms in Poole on the Dorset Coast of the UK.

GROWING GOURMET

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Proper prep 🔪 The FDA and experts from Penn State University scheduled an informational webinar for mushroom growers on August 6, 2024, covering Produce Safety Rule requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act. This session will focus on safe practices for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding mushrooms, with special attention to white, button, enoki, and wood ear mushrooms following recent foodborne illness outbreaks.

Plant-based confusion 🍔 Meati Foods is working to establish mycelium as a distinct food category separate from plant-based products. However, the company is currently facing a class action lawsuit over its advertising claims that its products are "made with mushroom root," when the main ingredient is actually Neurospora crassa, a type of red mold.

Pick your plate 🍽️ VegNews rounded up the most innovative mushroom dishes in US restaurants and this is a food bucket list if I’ve ever seen one.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Johns Hopkins studies psilocybin's potential to manage body weight

A new study from Johns Hopkins University investigates how psilocybin affects body weight, composition, and metabolism in mice, revealing possible applications for treating obesity and anorexia nervosa.

• The results: Psilocybin led to increased body weight in mice, mostly due to gains in lean mass and water content, not fat, meaning it could help build muscle mass effectively.

• Receptor independence: The weight gain from psilocybin did not rely on the usual brain receptors linked to mood and hunger, pointing to unique ways it may affect body weight.

• Metabolic insights: Elevated levels of enzymes like creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase in treated mice suggest that psilocybin might influence muscle and liver functions, which are crucial for overall health. ➡️ Read more.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

The home of over 1,500 mushrooms

If you're planning a trip to Croatia, don't miss Zagreb’s Museum of Mushrooms. Nestled in the capital city, this fascinating museum offers a dive into the world of mushrooms with a must-see collection curated over decades.

• Extensive collections: Featuring over 1,500 types of mushrooms, including species discovered by the late mycologist Professor Romano Božac, the museum’s displays are meticulously preserved in air-tight glass cabinets.

• Experts in the building: While most descriptions are in Croatian, you can still soak up knowledge about various fungal families and chat with the passionate staff who are always eager to share their mycology insights.

• The how: This collection is a loving tribute to Professor Božac, who began his catalog in 1969 and discovered 53 new species of mushrooms, all showcased in this remarkable museum. ➡️ Read more.

FUNGAL FANTASIA

Color color everywhere 🎨 I’ve loved Helen Dardik’s bold work for years on Instagram so imagine my surprise when mushrooms started sprouting from her feed recently…

MUSH MORE

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

I asked this last week butttt my email cut off. Technology 😅 

SPREAD THE SPORES

I mailed our first round of shroomer stickers last week and there are only a few packs left…