Category: Fun Facts

Tomatoes are a staple in kitchens worldwide, starring in everything from pasta sauces to fresh salads. But did you know that for nearly 200 years, tomatoes were feared as deadly in Europe? In the 18th century, they were nicknamed “poison apples” because some of the wealthiest people who ate them mysteriously fell ill—and sometimes died. The Deadly Reputation of Tomatoes The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) belongs to the nightshade family, which includes some genuinely toxic plants like deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and henbane (Hyoscyamus niger). This association alone was enough to make...