[EmmaLiane]

Hi there,
I’m a new allotment owner this year and enjoying it all so far!!
I have been passed on a link from an allotment forum in Brighton about poisonous courgettes. Apparently the poison is called Cucurbitacin E and can be detected by very bitter tasting courgettes. The article I read had numerous people commenting that they had experienced this and in some cases had pretty bad gastrointestinal issues (to put it politely..!) and that they had bought their seeds this season via Mr Fothergills.
I have two courgette plants going really well with a few baby courgettes coming along now. I’m a bit worried but I’m going to check where I got my seeds.
Has anyone else heard about this in the last week or two...?

[mumofstig]

The original link is here  https://www.bhaf.org.uk/content/advice/gardening-advice-a-z/poisonous-courgette-warning.
Fothergill's response is shown, as well.
The RHS says

Bitter tasting fruit
The bitter taste of some fruit is caused by an over-production of plant defence chemicals called ‘cucurbitacins’. This is mainly a problem in courgettes and summer squash and is caused primarily by a mutation within the plant. The problem is more likely when plants are grown from saved seeds, where inadvertent cross-pollination may have occurred.
Affected fruit should not be eaten as it causes stomach upsets and affected plants should be removed.

So it CAN happen to plants grown from seed bought from any supplier, or saved seeds. Don't panic, but If things don't taste nice - don't eat them.

[John]

It can happen with cucumbers too

https://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/cucumbers-growing/causes-prevention-bitter-cucumbers/

[EmmaLiane]

Thanks both, I won’t worry too much but will maybe do the taste test before using any in my recipes!
 

[John]

I'll be posting a press release / recall from Fothergills tonight - can't believe how many people basically said "It tasted awful so I ate it"

Incidentally - one of our cats loves cucumber leaves which contain cucurbitacin. Sneaks in and nibbles them at any opportunity but hasn't shown any ill effects. Then again, with cats the expensive cat food is poison but that manky 3 day dead mouse.....

[Subversive_plot]

I'll be posting a press release / recall from Fothergills tonight - can't believe how many people basically said "It tasted awful so I ate it"

Incidentally - one of our cats loves cucumber leaves which contain cucurbitacin. Sneaks in and nibbles them at any opportunity but hasn't shown any ill effects. Then again, with cats the expensive cat food is poison but that manky 3 day dead mouse.....

You can count dogs in with that cat, at least "outdoorsy" dachshunds.   

[John]

Fothergill's have recalled some of their courgette seeds - I've posted their press release here:
https://www.allotment-garden.org/garden-diary/6967/fothergills-recalls-courgette-zucchini/