The Poison Apple Then and Now: What Tomatoes Teach Us About Food Fears

Madison Morris, MS, RDN
Oct 13
6 min read

Food has always carried stories. Some are rooted in science; others are shaped by rumor, misunderstanding, and cultural lore. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I love examining foods and their stories—because the way humans have feared, celebrated, and misunderstood food tells us a lot about our relationship with eating today.

Few foods illustrate this better than the humble tomato.

A Fruit Once Feared

The tomato was originally referred to as "tomatl" in Nahuatl and is thought to have originated in South America. When Spanish explorers brought tomatoes from the Americas to Europe in the 1500s, they were met with suspicion. Europeans didn’t know quite what to make of this bright, glossy “New World” fruit. It looked like something out of the Solanaceae family—a plant group that includes deadly nightshade and other poisonous relatives.

Some early botanists described tomatoes as “rank and stinking.” Others labeled them “poison apples.” For nearly two centuries, Europeans feared tomatoes and believed eating one could make you deathly ill.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, this fear may have been linked to dinnerware. Wealthy Europeans often ate off pewter plates that contained lead. When acidic foods like tomatoes were placed on these plates, they could leach trace amounts of lead. As the story goes, those who dined on such meals sometimes developed lead poisoning—yet the tomato, not the tableware, took the blame.

By the 1700s, tomatoes were still largely ornamental across much of Europe. It wasn’t until the 1800s that they became recognized as safe—and eventually beloved—in kitchens across Italy, Spain, and beyond.

Tomatoes were originally referred to as "tomatl" in Nahuatl and are thought to have originated in South America.

The Worm That “Poisoned” the Plant

As if being called a “poison apple” in Europe wasn’t enough, the tomato gained another bad reputation amongst North American farmers in the 1800s when gardeners encountered the tomato hornworm—a large green, horned caterpillar that loved tomato plants.

Rural lore claimed that a personal encounter with one of these worms could lead to death. It was believed that if one of these worms touched a tomato, the fruit itself became poisonous. Publications from the era describe the hornworm as “an object of much terror” (The Illustrated Annual Register of Rural Affairs and Cultivator Almanac, 1867). Eventually, science caught up, revealing that the hornworm was harmless to humans (though still quite destructive to leaves).

In both cases—the “poison apple” myth and the worm scare—the pattern was the same: people feared what they didn’t understand.

Why We Fear What We Don’t Understand

Fear, in itself, isn’t bad. It’s often protective. It keeps us from eating actual toxins or taking unnecessary risks. However, misdirected, misguided, and misplaced fear can be dangerous. Fear can also grow wild when left unchecked—especially when it comes to food.

When we don’t understand something new, our brains try to make sense of it. We look for stories that explain our discomfort or justify our caution. In the tomato’s case, early Europeans couldn’t reconcile the fruit’s beauty with their preexisting beliefs about poisonous plants. The result? A logic leap: Pretty fruit = Dangerous fruit.

It’s a reminder that the human mind is wonderfully creative—but it can also be wonderfully biased.

Could Snow White’s “Poison Apple” Have Been a Tomato?

It’s an intriguing question — and one that pops up frequently in historical food discussions: Could the “poison apple” from the Snow White fairy tale have actually been inspired by the tomato’s twisted history? According to our research, Snow White was written in 1812. While there is no definitive evidence linking the story directly to the tomato, the overlap is fascinating. The term “poison apple” was commonly used in Europe during the centuries when tomatoes were feared, and the fruit’s reputation for making people ill (through lead exposure) might have influenced the cultural imagery of a deadly, tempting red fruit.

While we cannot prove a direct connection, Snow White’s apple is certainly symbolic — a fruit used to represent deception and danger. Whether or not it is a literal nod to tomatoes, the parallel feels almost poetic. Whether by myth or misunderstanding, both stories remind us how fear and imagination intertwine.

Though once feared, tomatoes are now known to be both safe and beneficial to humans.

Modern Echoes of the “Poison Apple”

Fast-forward a few centuries, and while we now know tomatoes are safe, the pattern of food fear hasn’t disappeared—it’s simply changed form.

Today, it shows up in headlines and hashtags. Certain foods or ingredients are labeled “clean,” while others are called “toxic.” Carbs become villains one decade, fats the next. People avoid entire food groups—sometimes for sound medical reasons, but often because of fear-based marketing or social media trends. When I work with clients, I often remind them there are no “good” or “bad” foods and that "All foods fit" and have a place in a balanced diet. Just like the tomato’s misunderstood story, our judgments about food can shift dramatically when we replace fear with curiosity.

What’s Your “Poison Apple?”

Pause for a moment and ask yourself:

Are there foods or food groups I’ve decided to permanently limit, restrict, or avoid—without a clear medical or clinical reason?
Have I ever labeled a food as “bad” or “forbidden?”
Do I ever feel shame, guilt, or self-judgment after eating certain foods?

If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. These thoughts are common in a culture that constantly categorizes foods as “clean” or “junk,” “super” or “sinful.”

But what might happen if, instead of assigning moral value to food, we saw it as neutral—something that simply is? Food is food. Something that can nourish not only our bodies, but also our connection to culture, pleasure, and community?

Food Fear Through a Dietitian’s Lens

As a dietitian and educator, I find it fascinating that many food fears throughout history began with incomplete information. Before we understood lead toxicity or plant chemistry, people made reasonable assumptions based on what they knew.

The same happens today. We fear what we don’t understand: Preservatives, GMOs, carbohydrates, gluten, seed oils—you name it. The problem isn’t caution; it’s absolutism. When we decide a single food (or entire category) must be avoided at all costs, we narrow not only our plates, but also our lives. Flexibility and understanding keep us nourished—physically, mentally, and socially.

Fear loses its power when met with knowledge, context, and compassion.

Can you picture a world without tomatoes on the table? Neither can I. Look how far we have come as humans!

Lessons from the Tomato

Curiosity can replace fear. Asking questions and engaging with curiosity opens the door to learning and expanding our perspective.
Stories shape beliefs. The tales we tell—about food, health, and ourselves—can either trap or free us.
Knowledge over lore. Understanding a food’s role and nutritive value, rather than its reputation, helps us eat with peace and confidence.

Today, the tomato is a culinary hero: rich in flavor, color, and nutrients. The same fruit once feared as deadly now stars in Mediterranean diets celebrated for longevity and heart health. It’s a poetic reminder that our perceptions can evolve—and that understanding often turns fear into appreciation.

An Invitation

As you move through your week, notice the messages you hear about food. Ask yourself:

Does this message assign a moral value to food (as “good” or “bad”)?
Does it encourage connection and flexibility... or fear and control?

When in doubt, remember the tomato—a food once blamed, misunderstood, and feared, yet ultimately embraced. Its transformation reminds us that beliefs can change — that something once feared can become cherished when we replace suspicion with understanding. If history can rehabilitate the tomato, perhaps we can also rehabilitate our own relationships with food—moving from suspicion to curiosity, from guilt to gratitude.

The “poison apple” turned out to be one of nature’s most nourishing gifts. In our next blogpost, we’ll explore the tomato’s redemption in full: Its nutrients, health benefits, and how to make the most of this remarkable fruit in your own kitchen. If you enjoyed this reflection on the quirky history of tomatoes, be sure to subscribe to the "smorgasbord" (our email list) and follow us on socials for more bite-sized content.

References & Further Reading