my mum says tomatoes are poisonous because they are part of the deadly nightshade family. Is this true?

Answer 1

Although they are part of the same family tomatoes are not harmful. On the contrary they are very beneficial.Potatoes also belong to this plant family.The tubers,potatoes are an established food.When the potato plant blooms sometimes small green fruits appear after the flowers have died down,these are poisonous.The toxin that sometimes affects us is an alkali solanine.

Answer 2

She's right that tomatoes are in the family solonaceae - the same as potatoes and deadly nightshade. This is quite a small family and most of its members are actually poisonous. But tomatoes aren't poisonous! Actually they're v good for you and are often listed as a 'super food' because of their high Vitamin C content - so don't be put off eating them.

Hope that helps xx

Answer 3

Old-school, eh? ;D That attitude goes back to the 16th century .*
The plant itself might make you sick, not the fruit .
Peppers,eggplant, tomatillos, ground cherries , and potatos are in the same family .( Even "Deadly Nightshade " isn't deadly, except in large quantity)
Plant families are generally very large and quite diverse, and can contain wildly different properties. . Even within the same genus , there can be a lot of variation. In other words, you just can't tell a plant by it's relatives.

* When potatos were first brought to England, there were served to the Queen & company . Something got lost in translation , however. They were seved as boiled greens, like spinach. Everyone got violently ill, and potatos were banned for about 50 years.

Answer 4

Tomato leaves and stems contain poisonous glycoalkaloids, but the fruit is safe.

(Glycoalkaloids are a family of poisons found in species of the nightshade family; a notable example is solanine, which is found in potatos. Glycoalkaloids are bitter tasting, and produce a burning irritation in the back of the mouth and side of the tongue when eaten. Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea and vomiting.)

John Gerard was influential in the late 1500s regarding his belief that tomatoes were poisonous. The tomato was considered unfit for eating thereafter in Britain and its North American colonies for many years. By the mid-1700s, however, tomatoes were widely eaten in Britain; and before the end of that century, the Encyclopædia Britannica stated that the tomato was "in daily use" in soups, broths, and as a garnish. Tomatoes were originally known as "Love Apples", possibly based on a mistranslation of the Italian name pomo d'oro (golden apple) as pomo d'amore.

Answer 5

It is true that the flowers are very similar but deadly nightshade contains belladonna. Tomato plants do not. They are of course quite safe to eat.

Answer 6

I don't know what family they belong to, but they are not poisonous or we would all be dead or very ill!
Tomatoes have lots of good stuff in them, and help to fight lots of things from common cold to cancers.
However, it is possible to have an allergy to tomatoes ( and other red foods). My sister is allergic to some red foods including tomatoes and her lip swells enormously if she eats them! Now my daughter also has a milder version of this reaction. Perhaps this is what your mum meant?

Answer 7

Fruits. Bananas are my favorite. btw did you know that tomatoes are the #1 selling fresh fruit? true beans

Answer 8

fruit grows on forest or vines and fresh vegetables grow in the land.

Answer 9

It's true, but the variety of tomatoes that we eat are not dangerous to humans. Long ago, people believed that tomatoes made them sick.

Answer 10

If that was the case we would all be very ill, your mum has to be winding you up, tomatoes are classed as a wonder food, very good for you !!.