Reports of potato poisoning state that unripe, sprouting, or green potatoes contain toxic alkaloids, including solanine. When ingested, they can cause drowsiness, weakness, apathy, and gastrointestinal symptoms. This is rare — in most cases, potatoes are safe to eat and are a staple food in many countries.
How can you tell if potatoes are poisonous?
But while you might not think twice about just cutting up a potato and cooking it, there's actually one important thing you should be paying attention to first: the color. Specifically, the color green. The presence of chlorophyll in a potato means that a glycoalkaloid poison named solanine is also present.
Why are some potatoes poisonous?
Potatoes contain two kinds of glycoalkaloids, both natural toxins, called solanine and chaconine. Exposure to light greatly increases the formation of chlorophyll and glycoalkaloids.
Can you eat a poisonous potato?
A poisonous potato can't be baked or planted like a normal potato, nor do they have a use with the composter. When eaten, it can cause rapid damage to a player (similar to a spider eye, though not as dangerous). A poisonous potato has a 60% chance of poisoning a player for 5 seconds.
What kind of potato can not be eaten?
Sprouted potatoes contain higher levels of glycoalkaloids, which can be toxic to humans when eaten in excess. Health problems linked to eating sprouted potatoes range from stomach upset to heart and nervous system problems, and, in severe cases, even death.
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