This study was undertaken to determine and compare the microbial quality and safety of 22 species of fresh cultivated and wild mushrooms obtained in retail outlets in Zaragoza (Spain). For these purposes, we quantified the number of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and moulds : total and thermotolerant coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were also analyzed as fecal contamination indicator microorganisms and the microbiological safety was evaluated by the prevalence of selected food-borne pathogens, E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., S. aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica. These data should contribute to evaluating the microbiological risk associated with fresh mushrooms as well as establishing international criteria for the microbial quality of these highly appreciated foods.