In summer, light flavored gourds and melons are popular among consumers. However, in some places, foodborne poisoning caused by consuming bitter gourd melons has occasionally occurred. National health science popularization expert, registered nutritionist of the Chinese Nutrition Society, professor and doctoral supervisor of Shanxi Medical University, Cheng Jingmin, reminds consumers that bitter gourd melons are highly toxic and cannot be consumed. When processing and making gourd melons in the unit cafeteria, one should also be careful not to mix bitter gourd melons in. Cheng Jingmin explained that gourd gourd, also known as gourd gourd, bottle gourd, Pu gourd, etc. Cucurbitas contain a large amount of sugar, protein, organic acids, and various vitamins, and have a sweet taste, so they are also known as sweet gourd melons. However, if the growth process of gourd melons is affected by abnormal climate or soil factors, they will carry bitterness genes. Bitter gourd melons contain high levels of alkaline glycosidic toxins, which are not easily broken down and decomposed when heated. After a few hours of ingestion (with a incubation period of generally 0.5 to 7 hours), symptoms such as dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and drowsiness may occur. In severe cases, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dehydration, and even pus and blood similar to poisoning may occur. In more severe cases, it may even lead to death. Generally speaking, the surface of bitter gourd melons is uneven, while the surface of sweet gourd melons is relatively smooth. Usually, people buy gourd melons from regular supermarkets and the probability of encountering bitter gourd melons is not high. If a cooked gourd or melon is found to have a bitter taste, it should be stopped immediately and discarded along with other food in the pot to prevent food poisoning. If you accidentally eat bitter gourd melons and experience symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea, you should immediately go to the hospital for treatment. At present, there is no specific treatment drug for similar situations, and hospitals often use methods such as inducing vomiting and diuresis to treat them. It is recommended not to try detoxification methods such as "drinking egg white" that are circulating online. Other common gourd foods such as cucumbers and luffa should be stopped immediately if they are found to have a bitter taste. (Lai Xin She)