Agaritine is a naturally occurring phenylhydrazine derivative present in wild and cultivated Agaricus mushroom species, including the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus. It is a known carcinogenic compound, meaning it promotes the formation of cancer cells. Up until the 1970s, multiple studies found such compounds in the mushroom agaricus bisporus - better knows as portobello mushroom. From the 1970s onward, no more studies surfaced, and right around the same time the marketing budget for mushrooms more than doubled in the U.S.. Suddenly portobello were marketed as a health food. Newer studies claim to have not only found no correlation between agaritine in mushrooms and the development of cancer cells, they claim to prove the opposite. Agaritine is supposed to have anti-carcinogenic effects. If that sudden spike in marketing budget and the subsequent vastly different study results don't raise any red flags yet, then this should. Nearly half of the U.S. portobello production is controlled by one tiny town in Pennsylvania. Even world renowned mushroom expert Paul Stamets seems to be scared to come forward or offer any explanation and deflects “This is an explosive area of conversation, and that puts my life in danger. So I reserve the right not to answer your question.” 

Wake up! The truth is out there! The Portobello Mafia is real!