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 people wary. When Spanish explorers brought tomatoes from the Americas to Europe in the 16th century, they were admired as exotic but not widely eaten. Many believed they were fit only for decoration.
Then came reports of aristocrats falling gravely ill after eating tomatoes. Some even died. This only fueled the belief that tomatoes were poisonous. The truth, however, had nothing to do with the fruit itself.
Blame the Plates, Not the Tomatoes
The real culprit behind these deaths was not the tomato but the plates they were eaten on. Wealthy Europeans dined on pewter plates, which contained high levels of lead. Tomatoes, being highly acidic, would leach lead from the plates, causing lead poisoning. Symptoms included nausea, abdominal pain, and, in extreme cases, death. Since the poor often used wooden or earthenware dishes, they were unaffected and continued eating tomatoes without issue.
Over time, as tableware changed and the public’s understanding of food safety improved, tomatoes shed their deadly reputation. By the 19th century, they were embraced as a delicious and nutritious food.
A Modern-Day Favorite
Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without tomatoes. They’re the base for ketchup, pizza sauce, and countless dishes across the globe. Packed with vitamins and antioxidants like lycopene, they’re not just safe but incredibly beneficial to health.
The next time you bite into a juicy tomato, remember—it wasn’t always so beloved. A simple misunderstanding nearly kept this now-essential fruit off our plates forever!
