Jeremy Clarkson is no stranger to controversy, and his latest claim has seen him reveal a potentially dangerous habit.
Now a farmer with his Diddly Squat Farm, the former Top Gear presenter has often been vocal about farming and agriculture, as well as hitting out at the British food industry and how it currently works.
His latest gripe sees him hit out at the lack of awareness of nature and food around us in the UK, as he wrote in his column for The Sun that the fields surrounding his Oxfordshire property are 'carpeted with mushrooms,' but says he has no clue which ones are safe to consume and which could be dangerous for our health.
He joked: "There are 15,000 different types of mushroom in the UK and you can eat all of them.
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"But some of them only once. And that's where things get tricky. Because it's nigh on impossible to tell which ones are fatal and which ones are not."
However he then added that he would rather try them out as he experiments with a 'Russian Roulette’ and throws them in together as part of his approach to diet. He quipped: “So I just chuck them all in a pan at lunchtime and play Russian roulette. So far so goo..."
Whilst Clarkson might be throwing in various funghi and seeing which he prefers best, it’s important to make a note that picking wild mushrooms can come with risks. Without knowing which are safe to eat, you could end up being sick or even violently unwell if you eat the wrong kind.
In general, Field Mushroom, Oyster Mushroom, Porcini (Penny Bun), Giant Puffball, and Chanterelle are classed as ‘safe’ but it’s essential you know exactly what these look like. There are a few fatal and dangerous types that can look very similar to the non-poisonous varieties. If you’re still keen to go foraging, always make sure you're fully clued up and try to respect the environment by only picking for personal consumption and avoiding endangered species.
The TV presenter has also been vocal recently about food in light of his own health worries, including anxiety over his health and lifestyle.
Stemming from a shock admission to intensive care in hospital after a pneumonia diagnosis in 2017 whilst holidaying in Majorca, Clarkson has mentioned how the ordeal impacted him.
He’s also been open about his former smoking habit, which is still having a lasting impact on his health. The TV personality has previously claimed he used to smoke 40 a day, and had done this for 43 years.
In a previous column the 63-year-old has explained that he ‘thinks about dying every day’ and he told readers: “For most of my adult life, stern-faced doctors warned me that if I didn’t give up smoking, I would suffer from an agonising and premature death.”
And whilst he has cut down significantly using nicotine gum, he was still given some stark words from his doctor as he added: “This week a doctor said it’s causing a worrying rise in my blood pressure and that if I don’t pack it in soon, I will suffer from an agonising and premature death.”
Niamh Spence