Part 5/8:

The esteemed Italian herbalist Pietro Andre Mattioli referred to the tomato as the "apple of gold." Still, the negativity surrounding the fruit persisted, primarily due to its association with lead poisoning. The elite in Europe ate from pewter plates, and the acidic nature of tomatoes would leach lead, leading many to believe that tomatoes were responsible for illnesses. This misconception caused the abandonment of tomatoes by Northern Europeans while Southern Europeans continued to enjoy them, particularly among the poorer communities.