the way I heard it was that the upper class would eat everything on silver plates. when they ate tomatoes, the acid in them would corrode the plate, giving them metal poisoning.

Pirates drank from silver flasks which kept them healthy on long periods at sea due to silver being a natural anti-microbial.

I doubt their drinks had acid in them.

Anyone who has been in 4th grade will get that.

Oh yeah, tomatoes were originally thought to be poisonous when they were first brought to Europe.

wasn't it there was a fruit in europe that looked similar to the tomato, and the one in europe was the poisonous one?

From what I've read, the stems and leaves are slightly poisonous.

I believe it's the potassium if I remember correctly.

Also read that potatoes are slightly poisonous in those parts, as well as if you eat them green.

Is this the one that had a reaction to pewter plates that made them poison? Or am I thinking of something else?

I could be wrong, but tomatoes were considered dirty and not suitable to eat in the Middle-ages. Was it that? lol.