Pumpkins, and other members of the squash family (marrows, courgettes, cucumbers, squashes etc.) can, if cross-fertilised with wild members of the family or with ornamental gourds, produce seeds which will grow into poisonous plants, giving rise to “toxic squash syndrome” if eaten.

Can you get sick from pumpkin?

When prepared correctly, pumpkins are relatively healthy and incredibly delicious. However, it's important to know how to keep the pumpkins away from pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and toxin-producing Escherichia coli as these micro-organisms could make a person very sick.

Are all pumpkins safe to eat?

You can eat all of the pumpkin - except for its stalk.

Smaller varieties such as onion squash have deliciously edible skin, the skin of larger varieties may be too tough to eat or less than appealing.