Tomatoes cause smoking

[snopes]

Comment: I've heard from a couple websites and some friends that tomatoes
contain a small trace of nicotene that can re-trigger the urge to smoke.
Is this true? The website link is
this: http://tomatoesareevil.com/tomatowelcome.htm. The "rumor" is at the
bottom of the page.

[erwins]

Well, members of the nightshade family do contain nicotine:

Abstract:

This investigation was initiated as a result of proposals in the literature that dietary nicotine intake could contribute to the level of nicotine metabolites in biological fluids such as salivary cotinine concentration. Nicotine concentration was determined in several frequently consumed vegetables from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) (i.e., tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, and peppers), as well as in some of their processed products. The edible Solanaceae fruit analyzed in this investigation were found to contain relatively consistent amounts of nicotine in the range of 2-7 g/kg for fresh fruits. Nevertheless, the nicotine concentrations of the investigated tomato varieties decreased significantly with increasing degree of ripening of the fruits. In addition, a variety of black as well as green teas was investigated for the nicotine content. Nicotine content in tea leaves was found to be highly variable and sometimes much larger than in the Solanaceae fruits. On the basis of the observed concentrations and the respective food consumption data for different countries, a distributive analysis of the results suggests that the mean daily dietary nicotine intake for the population of the countries for which consumption data were available is approximately 1.4 g/day, 2.25 g/day at the 95th percentile.

Article by Barbara Siegmund,* Erich Leitner, and Werner Pfannhauser, full article found here (requires membership for full article).

Whether they have enough to "trigger the urge to smoke" I don't know. It seems like that would depend on the individual smoker.

ETA: The tomatoesareevil.com website is really funny. I might have to get a "Jesus hates tomatoes" T-shirt.

erwins

[bjohn13]

Oh, my.

As someone who is deathly addicted to nicotine, and is vastly enjoying 30 months of being nicotine free, I'm always searching for reasons as to why my cravings never go away. The most helpful in my endeavor to stay smoke free was avoiding places where smoking is allowed, but the cravings have just never completely subsided. Now, I come to find that my diet, which contains heavy doses of peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes, is giving me a daily source of nicotine? No wonder I love them so much. I'm addicted to them!

Argh. I'll never beat this stupid addiction, even if it is just psychological.

[Simply Madeline]

I think they've confused tomatoes with tomacco.

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Simply Madeline

I think they've confused tomatoes with tomacco.

Damn you, Madeline! That was supposed to be my line!

[OptimusShr]

Glad to see I wasn't the only one thinking of that Simpsons episode.

[Lachrymose]

Originally Posted by Canuckistan

Damn you, Madeline! That was supposed to be my line!

Mine as well.

"This tastes like Grandma!"

[Mycroft]

I think that the original article has lost a milli or (more probably) micro in their figures, as according to them 1 tomato would contain the same dose of nicotine as hundreds of pieces of nicotine gum