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Courgette seeds recalled after Norfolk growers fall ill | Courgette seeds recalled after Norfolk growers fall ill |
(32 minutes later) | |
A batch of courgette seeds sold by a major supplier has been recalled after producing crops which made people ill. | |
Mr Fothergill's seed company, based in Newmarket in Suffolk, issued a warning against eating the bitter fruits. | Mr Fothergill's seed company, based in Newmarket in Suffolk, issued a warning against eating the bitter fruits. |
It said some seeds produced courgettes with "abnormally high levels" of a naturally occurring chemical which caused nausea and diarrhoea. | It said some seeds produced courgettes with "abnormally high levels" of a naturally occurring chemical which caused nausea and diarrhoea. |
Four families in Castle Acre, Norfolk, reported feeling unwell after eating the produce they had grown. | Four families in Castle Acre, Norfolk, reported feeling unwell after eating the produce they had grown. |
Jim Moriarty said his wife was "not well at all with cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting" after eating the courgettes. | Jim Moriarty said his wife was "not well at all with cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting" after eating the courgettes. |
"You cannot tell from the look of the seed that it is a problem. I think they need to go back to the original source and prevent this from happening again," he said. | "You cannot tell from the look of the seed that it is a problem. I think they need to go back to the original source and prevent this from happening again," he said. |
The firm has advised customers to throw away plants if the courgettes taste bitter and not to eat them. | The firm has advised customers to throw away plants if the courgettes taste bitter and not to eat them. |
On its website Mr Fothergill's said it had traced the seeds to seeds a grower "with the most meticulous growing and husbandry routines". | On its website Mr Fothergill's said it had traced the seeds to seeds a grower "with the most meticulous growing and husbandry routines". |
"The incidence of this problem is extremely rare, but not unknown," it added. | "The incidence of this problem is extremely rare, but not unknown," it added. |
It said the bitterness "could be due to unusually high levels of cucurbitacins, a naturally occurring compound that is present in all courgettes, cucumbers and squash". | It said the bitterness "could be due to unusually high levels of cucurbitacins, a naturally occurring compound that is present in all courgettes, cucumbers and squash". |
Mr Moriarty, who began growing vegetables as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, said he was also advised by Mr Fothergill's to "lick a courgette first" before cooking or eating them and not to consume them if they were bitter. | Mr Moriarty, who began growing vegetables as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, said he was also advised by Mr Fothergill's to "lick a courgette first" before cooking or eating them and not to consume them if they were bitter. |
He said he had not been put off growing courgettes in future. | He said he had not been put off growing courgettes in future. |
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