51 people fell sick, 3 hospitalized, 2 died from gastrointestinal illness linked to consuming raw/partially cooked morel mushrooms in Montana in 2023.

Montana health officials are urging caution when consuming morel mushrooms due to a gastrointestinal illness outbreak in 2023, where 51 people fell sick after eating raw or partially cooked morels at a restaurant, resulting in three hospitalizations and two deaths. Proper identification, storage, and preparation of morels are crucial to avoid illness, as symptoms may not be severe enough to seek medical attention.