Mushrooms? Is There A Gluten Issue?

[oceangirl]

Hi everyone,

I think I'm reverting to a paranoid state re: gluten. At some point in the last few weeks I was perusing a thread and thought I saw something about mushrooms potentially being problematic for the super-sensitive because they're grown on straw? Any veracity to that? Anyone? Especially the highly sensitive?

thank you,

lisa

[Jestgar]

I'm pretty sure mushrooms are grown in poop, if that makes you feel any better.

[jerseyangel]

I've never noticed a problem with them, Lisa. We have fresh mushrooms frequently with steak.

I always wash them under running water, though--mostly because of what Jess said The "chefs" on TV say it's fine to just wipe them off, but ewww.....

[oceangirl]

Thank you, Patti and Jestgar- just checking! Yikes, the "poop" thing kind of makes ya think twice about tossing them raw into a salad, eh?

lisa

[dilettantesteph]

It looks like wheat straw is used in the New Mexico Mushroom Garden:

www.mycowest.org/cult/i-grow/i-grow-1.htm

I personally haven't noticed any problems with mushrooms.

[MaryJones2]

I too wash mushrooms and haven't had any issues. Alton Brown tested the amount of water that mushrooms absorb when soaked and it was almost none.

I guess if it's a concern you can grow your own. Nurseries sell mushroom kits.

[wschmucks]

If you have issues with candida-- yeast over growth, mushrooms can cause you problems...maybe that could be why they are bothering you?

[missy'smom]

I was at a local farmer's market this past weekend and saw a guy selling mushrooms-oyster and s$#&ake. Out of curiosity I asked how they were grown because I have seen some intresting things on TV. So he said, they were grown on bags in wood pulp like mixture of x,y,z and...wheat hulls and another wheat product. I was quite suprized, so I asked if thet was standard industry practice and he say yes! Not sure what to do with that info.! I don't know if that applies to small operations, like his or large or with those particular mushrooms. I'm not one who washes her mushrooms and hadn't noticed a problem with the kinds that I buy but it's a little disconcerting.

[mushroom]

I was at a local farmer's market this past weekend and saw a guy selling mushrooms-oyster and s$#&ake. Out of curiosity I asked how they were grown because I have seen some intresting things on TV. So he said, they were grown on bags in wood pulp like mixture of x,y,z and...wheat hulls and another wheat product. I was quite suprized, so I asked if thet was standard industry practice and he say yes! Not sure what to do with that info.! I don't know if that applies to small operations, like his or large or with those particular mushrooms. I'm not one who washes her mushrooms and hadn't noticed a problem with the kinds that I buy but it's a little disconcerting.

I believe all those specialty mushrooms are grown in a different way from the ordinary brown or white mushrooms which are grown in big poop houses (and some straw probably). You can grow oyster and s$#&ake mushrooms at home on a log innoculated with the spores or in jars or bags:

Just google growing mushrooms from spores and you will learn lots of interesting things.