USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In the late 1700s, a large percentage of Europeans feared the tomato. A nickname for the fruit was the “poison apple” because it was thought that aristocrats got sick and died after eating them, but the truth of the matter was that wealthy Europeans used pewter plates, which were high in lead content.

Detailed explanation-2: -Tomatoes are highly acidic, and therefore often considered a trigger food for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux, in which stomach contents flow back up through the esophagus and cause irritation.

Detailed explanation-3: -Tomatoes were apparently feared in The USA for many years because of a rumor spread early on that they contained tomatine, a chemical compound that could be harmful for humans.

Detailed explanation-4: -The mistaken idea that tomatoes were poisonous probably arose because the plant belongs to the Nightshade family, of which some species are truly poisonous. The strong, unpleasant odor of the leaves and stems also contributed to the idea that the fruits were unfit for food.

Detailed explanation-5: -You may have heard that tomatoes were considered poisonous by all but a few Americans until the mid-1800s.