Safety, Toxicology & Contaminants in Mushroom Products
Assess the safety of mushroom products, from heavy metals and oxalates to adverse event reports, interactions and toxicological data.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Safety, Toxicology & Contaminants in Mushroom Products
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Medicinal & Functional Fungi. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
This course teaches you how to assess the safety of mushroom foods and supplements systematically. Starting with the principles of food and supplement toxicology, it covers heavy metals and radionuclides, natural constituents such as oxalates and purines, microbial and mycotoxin hazards, adverse event reports and published case literature. Each topic links hazard identification to practical controls and documentation.
Mushrooms can accumulate metals, some species carry specific concerns such as high oxalate in chaga, and published case reports show that concentrated products are not automatically harmless. Quality, safety and regulatory professionals need to evaluate these risks with the same rigour applied to any other ingredient, and to document their conclusions. The course uses real data, case reports and regulatory limits to build that judgement. In your final project you will assemble a product safety dossier for a mushroom supplement, including hazard identification, exposure estimates, contaminant limits, an interaction and adverse event review, and a conclusion on safe conditions of use.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in medicinal fungi, useful in areas such as dietary supplements, food safety and quality, regulatory consultancy, ingredient manufacturing.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
Assess the safety of mushroom products, from heavy metals and oxalates to adverse event reports, interactions and toxicological data.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: Principles of Food and Supplement Toxicology; Heavy Metals, Radionuclides and Bioaccumulation.
- Put them into practice: Oxalates, Purines and Other Natural Concerns; Microbial and Mycotoxin Hazards.
- Apply everything to a real case: Adverse Event Reports and Case Literature; Building a Product Safety Dossier.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your tutor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Apply hazard identification and exposure assessment to mushroom products.
- Interpret heavy metal and contaminant results against regulatory limits.
- Recognise natural constituents of concern in specific species.
- Evaluate adverse event reports and case literature critically.
- Compile a structured safety dossier for a mushroom supplement.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Quality, safety and regulatory professionals.
4.2Entry requirements
Basic knowledge of chemistry, biology or food safety is recommended. No laboratory access is required.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Food safety specialist at a supplement manufacturer
- Regulatory scientist preparing safety documentation
- Quality manager responsible for contaminant control
- Safety reviewer for an ingredient supplier
- Consultant in supplement safety assessment
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Principles of Food and Supplement Toxicology | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Heavy Metals, Radionuclides and Bioaccumulation | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Oxalates, Purines and Other Natural Concerns | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Microbial and Mycotoxin Hazards | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Adverse Event Reports and Case Literature | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Building a Product Safety Dossier | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Hazard versus risk
- Dose, exposure and reference values
- Sources of toxicological data
- Metal uptake by fungi
- Regulatory limits for food and supplements
- Radionuclides and wild-harvested material
- Oxalates in chaga and other species
- Purines and dietary considerations
- Allergens and sensitisation
- Bacterial and mould contamination
- Mycotoxins in grain-based substrates
- Controls during processing
- Pharmacovigilance and nutrivigilance systems
- Reading published case reports
- Potential interactions
- Structure of a safety dossier
- Exposure assessment
- Writing safety conclusions
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A product safety dossier for a mushroom supplement, from hazard identification to safe conditions of use.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your tutor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions and module exercises such as exposure calculations and case report reviews. The final safety dossier is reviewed by the tutor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your tutor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
At Fungaris, the Medicinal Fungi school coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The tutor for each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Safety, Toxicology & Contaminants in Mushroom Products?
Basic knowledge of chemistry, biology or food safety is recommended. No laboratory access is required.
How is Safety, Toxicology & Contaminants in Mushroom Products taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions and module exercises such as exposure calculations and case report reviews. The final safety dossier is reviewed by the tutor.
What is the final project?
A product safety dossier for a mushroom supplement, from hazard identification to safe conditions of use.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
What can I study after Safety, Toxicology & Contaminants in Mushroom Products?
The natural next step is Diploma in Functional & Medicinal Mushrooms.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
Keep branching.
From our species guide.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).