Tomatoes were once considered 'poisonous' for 200 years

Centuries before becoming a key ingredient in salads and sauces, tomatoes were once considered by Europeans to be a deadly poison.

For nearly 200 years by the end of the nineteenth century, most Europeans, especially those of the upper classes, avoided eating tomatoes because they believed that the nickname "apple poison" caused illness and died. . After a long period of stigma, scientists finally discovered that tomatoes were the victims of a simple misunderstanding.

Tomatoes were once considered poisonous by leaking lead in tin alloy plates.(Photo: glamcheck.com)

It all began with the fact that the rich Europeans always used tin alloy dishes, which contained high levels of lead, to store food. Because natural tomatoes are highly acidic, when they are put into tin alloy containers, they will lead to lead and often lead to acute lead poisoning.

According to Smithsonian magazine, the way to take tomatoes from a "toxic fruit" to a favorite ingredient for many challenging foods. The US Department of Agriculture document said that wild tomato varieties naturally grow in South America, from southern Ecuador to northern Chile and the Galapagos Islands.

Europeans are thought to have lost stigma towards tomatoes thanks to the introduction of pizza in Italy in 1880. (Photo: internet)

This fruit was first noted to appear outside the Americas in 1544 in Italy, where they were originally grown as a decorative or curious plant. Tomatoes are now classified as Solanaceae.

Like many fruits and vegetables in the Solanaceae family, including eggplant, tomatoes are rumored to be not only toxic but also tempting. According to the new book entitled "Tomatoes in the Americas: Food History, Culture and Food Processing" , public skepticism towards tomatoes is even more serious after a 1957 publication. The name "Herb" is based on the poor research of John Gerard. In the book, which mostly stole ideas about herbs, Mr. Gerard confirmed that all the tomato plants had a terrible taste with leaves and stems all bearing toxicity.

Tomatoes are now the preferred ingredient for many dishes around the world.(Photo: wundersalat.blogspot)

Gerard's view shaped Europe's attitude toward foreign outcomes over the next two centuries. The turning point for tomatoes occurred in 1880 with the invention of pizza in Naples, Italy. This type of cake made from these red and attractive tomatoes quickly became popular throughout Europe and North America.

Today, tomatoes are present in almost every culinary art of different schools in the world. More than 1.5 billion tons of tomatoes are harvested and consumed globally each year. In 2009 alone, the United States produced nearly 1.7 million tons of tomatoes for the market.