Donna Ventura, a Montana woman, died a painful death after consuming poisonous morel mushrooms imported from China at Dave’s Sushi restaurant. The mushrooms caused gastrointestinal illness in at least 51 people, two of whom died. Ventura spent two weeks in the intensive care unit before succumbing to the toxins that destroyed her liver and kidneys.
Ventura’s husband, Jon, revealed that his wife communicated with her loved ones through messages written with a red magic marker before her death. She expressed her pain, love, and concern for her family’s well-being.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that morel mushrooms, while generally edible, need to be fully cooked to prevent potential toxic effects.
In the wake of the probe into the outbreak, Ventura has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the restaurant. Dave’s Sushi closed briefly following the outbreak but reopened the following month.
Ventura’s husband has expressed concerns about the health code violations at the restaurant and worries about the safety of those who continue to eat there.
