Did they think tomatoes poisonous?

The first recorded instance of someone thinking tomatoes were poisonous was in 1548, when Italian physician Pietro Andrea Mattioli wrote that "the fruit is red and like a wolf's tooth." This belief may have come about because of the fact that tomatoes are part of the nightshade family, which includes several poisonous plants. The nightshade family includes potatoes, eggplants, and peppers, all of which are safe to eat. It's likely that the belief that tomatoes were poisonous persisted because of this association. It wasn't until the late 18th century that tomatoes began to be widely cultivated in Europe. At first, they were grown as ornamental plants, but eventually people began to experiment with eating them. It was around this time that the belief that tomatoes were poisonous began to dissipate. There are a few theories as to why people thought tomatoes were poisonous. One is that early cultivars of tomatoes were more bitter than those grown today. This may have led people to believe that they were poisonous. Another theory is that people were afraid of eating tomatoes because of their association with nightshade plants. Whatever the reason, it's clear that at one point in time, people thought tomatoes were poisonous. Thankfully, that belief has been debunked and we can enjoy this delicious fruit without worry!