Some sources state that one scientific name of the tomato translates to "wolf peach" in reference to its relation to the wolf-fruit or wolf-apple, which are food sources to wild canids (Tomato 3). Other sources claim that the wolf peach translation may come from the tomato's relation to the nightshade, which was believed to conjure werewolves (History 8).
The nightshade's known poisonous properties may have led to the belief that the tomato was also poisonous. To begin with, the two plants, being in the same family, are similar and sometimes mistaken for one another (History 6). Also, the leaves and stem do contain poisonous chemicals, and John Gerard originally published a botanical book claiming that, like the nightshade, the tomato was poisonous. This book was reproduced (legally and illegally) throughout Europe, and Gerard was seen as an authority on botanicals, so his claim was believed by many (Tomato 8).
Another reason that it may have been believed to have poisonous problems is its acidity. Many wealthier homes had dishes made from pewter and the acidic juices of the tomato leeched out the lead, causing lead poisoning. This also meant that the poorer class was unaffected, and often tomatoes were still consumed by poor families (Veggie 3). This situation may have produced the stories of French Revolutionaries encouraging the consumption of red foods, such as tomatoes, to show loyalty (red being the color of the Revolution). Since the nobility were still uncomfortable with tomatoes, it was the perfect food for the cause (Myths 4).
Other misconceptions about the tomato may have come from a situation of "lost in translation". Some Spanish ethnic groups were known as Moors, and "pomme de Moor" means apple of the Moors. But a French pronunciation of the same words sounds like "pomme d'amour", or apple of love. Of course, the nickname may have come from the belief that the tomato was used by Native Americans as an aphrodisiac (History 2). The nickname may also have been part of the reason that the plant did not do well among the European colonists - the Puritans would have shunned a plant with such a name. Another nickname, the golden apple, would also be too hedonistic for Puritan tastes (History 11).
And it's not just the aversion to the tomato that is surrounded by myth and confusion. This plant's return to grace is also reserved to legend. American folk tales attribute the revitalization of the tomato as food to Thomas Jefferson, who grew the plant in his own gardens (History 13). Other legends claim Col. Robert Johnson proved the tomato's value when he ate a basket of them as a public stunt. When the crowd saw that he didn't die, it proved that tomatoes were not the vile fruit they had thought (History 14).
Moreover, the tomato became such a point of controversy, the U.S. Supreme Court had to rule on it. In 1887, there was a tax on vegetables, but not on fruits. The tomato is botanically a fruit, though common usage and language refers to it as a vegetable. When one merchant was taxed on tomatoes, he took his case to court. The Supreme Court ruled that the common usage overruled the academic classification (History 16).
Thus, a rather common and unassuming plant has a rather tempestuous past.
Sources:
"Myths of the Tomato." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 4 June 2007. 1 January 2009. http://vasatwiki.icrisat.org/index.php/Myths_of_the_tomato.
"Tomato History: From Poison to Obsession." Gardening Guru. 1 January 2009. http://www.tomatogardeningguru.com/history.html.
"Tomato History." Veggie Cage. 1 January 2009. http://www.tomato-cages.com/tomato-history.html.
“Tomato.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 3 January 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato.
