🧠 The Daily Fact #28

In 18th-century Europe, people believed that tomato plants were poisonous because they were nicknamed "poison apples." This misconception arose because wealthy Europeans ate tomatoes off pewter plates, which contained high levels of lead. The tomato’s acidity caused lead to leach into the food, leading to lead poisoning. Poorer people, who used wooden plates, didn’t experience the same problem, so the reputation stuck primarily among the upper class. It wasn’t until much later that tomatoes were redeemed and became a culinary staple.

This brings a whole new light to this scene from Lord of The Rings when Denethor is eating a tomato in the worst way.