Why Were Europeans Afraid of Tomatoes for 200 Years?

In the late 1700s, the vast majority of Europeans were afraid of tomatoes. Yes, from the tomato we know. In fact, its nickname was “poisoned apple”.

Tomato, which is an indispensable part of meals today, has been used by Europeans for a very long time. why are you so afraid Let’s explain.

Tomatoes were thought to be poisonous.

In the late 1700s, aristocrats He was eating his tomatoes from their tin plates and they often fell ill and died. The cause of their deaths was attributed to tomatoes, but the situation was much different.

Since tin plates contain high amounts of lead, they combine with the acidic nature of tomatoes. to lead poisoning It was paving the way. No one thought the deaths were caused by this, everyone blamed tomatoes and they were avoided for 200 years.

The Italian herbalist’s classification of tomatoes as poisonous further strengthened the belief.

Herbalist Pietro Andrae Matthioli, tomato part of the deadly nightshade family He classified it as. This reinforced Europeans’ belief that tomatoes were poisonous.

In the 1930s, people in the United States considered tomato worms a poisonous threat and they also abstained from eating.

As scientific knowledge spread, perception changed.

As scientific knowledge about tomatoes increased, people began to become convinced that tomatoes were not a threat. farmers, assorted tomatoes developed and its popularity gradually increased.

Especially with the invention of pizza in Italy, tomatoes became widespread in Europe and, in colloquial terms, became popular in Europe. “tomato phobia” has completely disappeared.

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