Bioaccumulation Patterns and Nutritional Profiles of Wild Morels (Morchella spp.) in Southwest Anatolia: Implications for Food Safety and Commercial Harvesting

Wild edible mushrooms, such as species of Morchella (morels), are globally prized for their culinary and nutritional value but pose potential health risks due to their ability to accumulate toxic trace elements. This study provides a systematic assessment of heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Co, Ni), trace element (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), major nutrient (Ca, K, Mg, Na), and protein contents in five commercially harvested Morchella taxa (M. angusticeps, M. esculenta, M. deliciosa, M. elata, and M. rotunda) from Southwest Anatolia, Turkey—a key region for global morel exports. Using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and nitrogen analysis, significant interspecific variations were identified: M. angusticeps exhibited concerningly high cadmium (12.78 ± 4.16 mg/kg) and lead (3.66 ± 0.48 mg/kg), exceeding EU safety thresholds for cultivated mushrooms, while M. rotunda emerged as a nutritionally rich, low-risk species with elevated protein (34.27%) and iron (386 ± 66 mg/kg). Cobalt and lead were undetectable in M. elata, suggesting species-specific exclusion mechanisms. These findings underscore the dual role of morels as nutrient-dense foods and potential vectors of toxic metals, emphasizing the need for species- and region-specific guidelines to safeguard consumers and inform sustainable harvesting practices in Anatolia’s burgeoning mushroom trade.