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> By the late 1700s that had radically changed — people feared to eat tomatoes as the fruit had gained a reputation as being poisonous. The unusual culprit was
by hasbot 2y ago
> By the late 1700s that had radically changed — people feared to eat tomatoes as the fruit had gained a reputation as being poisonous. The unusual culprit was actually tableware. It turned out the pewter plates of the wealthy contained significantly high lead content. The acid in tomatoes brought out this poison and people succumbed.
I'm always amazed at how wide spread the use of lead in food and water was considering knowledge of lead poisoning was known as far back as 200 BC.
- jsbisviewtiful 2y ago> considering knowledge of lead poisoning was known as far back as 200 BC. Certainly could have been known in pockets, but the manufacturing of general goods and the spreading of information was not like it is today - or even 100 years ago. Could be a combination of feasibility and the universally unknown that caused the continued usage to be widespread.
- hasbot 2y agoYou're saying the benefits of lead were widely known but not the issues? That makes no sense.
- jsbisviewtiful 2y agoThat's not even close to what I posted. Please re-read. Thanks
- hasbot 2y agoPeople didn't just randomly add lead to their products. They added lead for specific desired results (e.g. adding lead to gasoline was to reduce knock). So the beneficial properties of lead were well known but, it appears, you're saying the problems with lead were not. If that is not your point, please rephrase.