Tag: Zucchini poisoning

According to reports compiled by a French poison center from 2012 to 2016, over 350 cases of adverse effects were linked to eating bitter-tasting cucurbitaceae, confirming that toxic squash syndrome, while rare, is a legitimate risk for consumers. This condition is caused by high levels of naturally occurring compounds known as cucurbitacins.

While documented cases exist, cucurbitacin poisoning is considered a very rare occurrence. This unusual form of food poisoning stems from a natural toxin found in the cucumber and squash family, which can cause severe gastrointestinal distress if consumed.

In extremely rare cases, consuming vegetables from the gourd family has led to severe illness and even death due to toxic cucurbitacins, making understanding the question, "Is cucurbitacin harmful to humans?" an important part of safe food preparation.

In 2018, a French poison control center reported over 350 cases of illness linked to bitter-tasting squashes. This cluster of incidents highlighted the dangers of toxic squash syndrome, a rare form of food poisoning caused by high levels of naturally occurring toxins in the gourd family.