Do Tomatoes Have Nicotine?
Wondering “do tomatoes have nicotine?” Yes, tomatoes and some other foods contain nicotine, but only in trace amounts. Find out why nicotine naturally occurs in some foods and what it means for your daily intake in this article.
Key Points
- Tomatoes and potatoes contain nicotine, but only in trace amounts.
- One cigarette delivers as much nicotine as thousands of tomatoes.
- Cauliflowers and teas also contain very small amounts of nicotine.
- The very low levels of nicotine in vegetables are not a health concern.
Table of Contents
Is There Nicotine In Tomatoes?
Yes, there is nicotine in tomatoes, but the amount is very small.
According to research, ripe tomatoes contain 4.3 nanograms of nicotine per gram of tomato.1 A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram.
This means that one tomato weighing between 100-150g will contain around 430-645 nanograms of nicotine.
We can compare the nicotine content in tomatoes and cigarettes to see how meaningful these levels of nicotine actually are.
Nicotine in Tomatoes vs Cigarettes
Nicotine levels in cigarettes are much higher, so they are measured in milligrams (one-thousandth of a gram).
Levels vary, but on average, a cigarette contains around 13.5 milligrams of nicotine.2 Of that amount, about 1-1.5 milligrams of nicotine is delivered to the smoker.
1 milligram equals 1,000,000 nanograms. Based on the nicotine delivered from a cigarette (1-1.5 milligrams), you would need to eat approximately 1,550-3,500 tomatoes to consume the same amount of nicotine.
(Compared to cigarettes, nicotine pouch products are available in a range of strengths, allowing users to choose their preferred nicotine level).
Do Potatoes Have Nicotine?
Potatoes also contain trace amounts of nicotine. Potatoes contain approximately 7.1 nanograms of nicotine per gram of food.
A medium potato weighing about 150 grams would therefore contain about 1,065 nanograms of nicotine.
You’d need to eat around 940-1,400 medium potatoes to consume the same amount of nicotine that one cigarette delivers.
What Foods Contain Nicotine?
You may be wondering what foods contain nicotine apart from tomatoes and potatoes.
The figures below show the approximate amount of nicotine per gram of food. Since most vegetables weigh far more than one gram, the total nicotine content in a whole vegetable will be higher:
- Cauliflower: 16.8 nanograms per gram
- Aubergine: 100 nanograms per gram
- Green tomatoes: 42.8 nanograms per gram
Some studies have also found that black, green, and oolong teas contain trace amounts of nicotine.3
However, brewing reduces nicotine levels, with only around half the amount of nicotine being released into the liquid.
Why Do Some Foods Contain Nicotine?
Nicotine occurs naturally in several plants of the nightshade family.
It acts as a natural insect repellant, helping plants to fend off unwelcome pests.
Does Cooking Reduce Nicotine in Food?
Cooking methods may affect nicotine levels in food. For example, cooking vegetables in water means that some of the nicotine is transferred to the water.
Bottom Line: Should You Care About Nicotine in Food?
Dietary nicotine isn’t something to worry about, because the amounts are so tiny.
Plus, the body absorbs nicotine differently when it is eaten rather than inhaled or absorbed (as with tobacco-free snus).
This means you can continue eating potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine without being concerned about any nicotine effects.
FAQs Do Tomatoes Have Nicotine?
Is there nicotine in tomatoes?
Yes, tomatoes naturally contain trace amounts of nicotine.
A ripe tomato contains approximately 4.3 nanograms of nicotine per gram of tomato. By comparison, a cigarette typically delivers about 1-1.5 milligrams of nicotine.
1 milligram equals 1,000,000 nanograms, so there is a vast difference between these nicotine levels.
Is there nicotine in potatoes?
Yes, potatoes contain small amounts of nicotine. A medium potato contains around 1,065 nanograms of nicotine, which is still far lower than the amount of nicotine delivered by a cigarette.
Nicotine in tomatoes vs cigarettes: how do they compare?
The nicotine content in tomatoes is tiny compared to cigarettes.
While a cigarette typically delivers around 1-1.5 milligrams of nicotine to a smoker, you would need to eat approximately 1,550-3,500 tomatoes to consume a similar amount.
What food has nicotine in it?
Nicotine is naturally occurring in several foods, particularly those from the nightshade family.
Tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine, and cauliflower all contain trace amounts, as do some teas (including black, green, and oolong).
Sources
- The Nicotine Content of Common Vegetables. E. Domingo et al.
- Current advances in research in treatment and recovery: Nicotine addiction. J. Prochaska and N.L. Benowitz.
- Determination of the nicotine content of various edible nightshades (Solanaceae) and their products and estimation of the associated dietary nicotine intake. B. Siegmund, E. Leitner, and W. Pfannhauser.
