Were tomatoes considered poisonous when they were discovered by Europeans?

Answer 1

The Europeans thought that tomatoes were poisonous because when they put the tomatoes onto their pewter plates, the acid from the tomato leeched out the lead which is toxic when ingested. The tomato is a member of the Nightshade family which is toxic. The leaves, made into a tea has been known to have caused one death because of the toxic alkaloid tomantine. Tomantine is not found in the ripe fruit. Dogs have been known to have died after eating the tomato plant and the tomato was thought to be poisonous as well.

Answer 2

Tomatoes were not grown in England until the 1590's although they were available in Spain and Italy. One of the earliest growers in England was John Gerard, and he believed it was poisonous. Thus it was considered unfit for eating. The plant does contain low levels of Tomatine, but is not dangerous. By the mid 18th Century they were widely eaten in England

Answer 3

The Europeans thought that the tomato was poisonous, because they looked like the wolf peach.

Answer 4

Yes
Yes, so were potatoes, since they're both members of the nightshade family.

Answer 5

true