Nicotine in Vegetables

Do some vegetables contain nicotine? Yes — certain everyday foods like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers naturally contain trace levels of nicotine. This article explores which vegetables have nicotine, how much is in them, and why it’s there in the first place. 

Key Takeaways
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  • Nicotine naturally occurs in vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. 
  • These plants belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which produces nicotine as a natural insect repellent. 
  • An average adult diet provides 1,400–2,250 nanograms (ng) of nicotine per day from food— but this is thousands of times less than a single cigarette (approximately 10,000,000ng to 12,000,000ng per cigarette). 
  • Cooking may slightly change nicotine levels, but doesn't eliminate it. 

Why is There Nicotine in Vegetables?

Nicotine isn’t only found in tobacco. It’s a naturally occurring compound in certain plants, especially those in the nightshade family, including: 

  • Tomatoes 
  • Potatoes 
  • Peppers 
  • Eggplants  

These plants use nicotine as a natural defense against insects and pests. While tobacco contains much higher levels, trace amounts can show up in foods we eat every day.


This natural nicotine is part of the plant’s biology, not something added during farming or processing. 

Nicotine Levels in Common Vegetables

Are you wondering how much nicotine is in a tomato or potato? Here's a quick look at average nicotine concentrations across some popular foods: 

Food Approximate Nicotine Content * (nanograms/kg) Notes
Tomatoes 2,700 Higher levels in unripe or cherry tomatoes
Potatoes 3,300 Most nicotine is found in the skin
Peppers 3,700 Varies by pepper type
Eggplants Extremely low to even undetectable Some varieties can show trace levels

* https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199308053290619   


To put this into perspective, a medium tomato (~125g) may contain 337–2,500 ng of nicotine, whereas the tobacco plant can contain 100,000 to 400,000 times more than that, showing just how little nicotine naturally occurs in vegetables compared to the tobacco plant itself, or tobacco derived products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco. 

Does Cooking Remove Nicotine in Vegetables?

Cooking doesn’t eliminate nicotine, but it can slightly change the amount: 

  • Boiling may reduce levels as some nicotine extracts into the water. 
  • Frying or baking may show slightly higher concentrations due to reduced water content. 
    • French fries, for example, have been found to contain more nicotine per kg than raw potatoes. 

Still, the biggest takeaway here is that these levels are far too low to produce any noticeable effects. 

Is Nicotine in Vegetables Harmful?

The short answer: no, not in the amounts typically found in food.


Studies show that a typical adult diet provides 1,400–2,250 ng of nicotine per day from vegetables — that’s far less than what’s in even one puff of a cigarette.


This dietary nicotine doesn’t pose any known health risks. It's also not linked to addiction or tobacco-related concerns when consumed through vegetables. 

Final Thoughts

It’s interesting to learn that nicotine shows up in everyday vegetables—and equally interesting to learn that this natural nicotine is part of the plant's biology, and the trace amounts found in food are not harmful or habit-forming. Still, it's a fascinating example of how deeply nicotine is woven into the natural world — not just something found in tobacco products, but also in the food on your plate. 

FAQ

  • Yes, tomatoes contain trace amounts of nicotine, especially when unripe or in cherry tomato varieties. 
  • Yes, most of the nicotine in potatoes is in the skin. White potatoes contain nicotine, but in very small amounts. 
  • Vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants all contain nicotine. Brewed tea may also have trace amounts.
  • Because they're part of the nightshade family. These plants naturally produce nicotine to protect themselves from pests.