Great must-haves for the Halloween party: squash, but be careful not all of them are good for food consumption because they contain cucurbitacins, toxic substances.
- All squashes – pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins – are not edible.
- Some contain cucurbitacins, substances which make them toxic to humans.
- If you have squash in a family vegetable garden, be careful because the phenomenon of wild hybridization can make them unfit for consumption.
With Halloween just a few days away, the costumes and decorations may already be ready. In this setting, squashes are a must: pumpkins, pumpkins, squash, pumpkins. But be careful, as reminded the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), not all squash are suitable for food consumption.
Squash unfit for consumption
Most squashes that are unsafe to eat contain cucurbitacins. These are irritating and bitter substances naturally produced by vegetables to protect themselves from insects. According to poison Control Centerbetween 2012 and 2016, there were 353 cases of mild to moderate bitter gourd poisoning.
Several squashes contain cucurbitacins and are therefore toxic to humans:
- Those called ornamental, like colocynths. Please note, they are sometimes sold commercially but should be reserved for decorative use.
- Those grown in a family vegetable garden because if they are with other varieties – bitter and/or edible – there may be a phenomenon of wild hybridization which makes them unfit for consumption.
Serious symptoms if consumed
If a toxic squash is ingested, the symptoms can be serious: digestive pain, nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea (sometimes with blood), severe dehydration.
If you are in doubt about any of these vegetables, taste a small piece: if it tastes bitter, do not eat. In stores, read labels carefully and ask salespeople for advice.
Finally, in the great outdoors, never pick up a squash to eat it… But you can, without any problem, dig it and decorate it so that it becomes your Halloween pumpkin!