Vegan professor falls ill from green pumpkin

Bertrand, a 52-year-old vegan professor, experienced severe health issues after consuming a green pumpkin he purchased from a bio store in a Parisian region on March 21. Shortly after his dinner, he began vomiting, his skin started to peel, and his hair fell out in clumps.

Toxin identified in the pumpkin

The green pumpkin Bertrand purchased was found to contain a powerful toxin called cucurbitacin. This toxin is known to cause severe symptoms, including vomiting, and can lead to more prolonged health effects.

Health consequences and recovery

Bertrand reported being unable to sleep for three days due to continuous vomiting. His condition raised concerns, and he feared for his life, unsure how much time he had left before the effects became fatal.

Awareness of pumpkin toxicity increases

The incident has raised awareness about the potential toxicity of certain pumpkins, specifically those containing cucurbitacin. While the article outlines several factors that can lead to cucurbitacin poisoning, it also suggests several preventive measures to avoid such incidents.