Potatoes contain two kinds of glycoalkaloids, both natural toxins, called solanine and chaconine.
Can potatoes become toxic?
Most commercial varieties of potatoes are screened for solanine, but any potato will build up the toxin to dangerous levels if exposed to light or stored improperly.
What part of the potato is toxic?
However, potatoes sometimes turn green, which may indicate high levels of a potentially toxic compound. In general, people should not eat green potatoes unless they take certain safety precautions, such as cutting away all the green parts of the vegetable that contain the poisonous compound, which is called solanine.
Do potatoes give off poisonous gas?
Rotting potatoes give off a noxious solanine gas that can make a person unconscious if they've inhaled enough. There have even been cases of people dying in their root cellars due to unbeknownst rotting potatoes.
What does solanine do to the body?
Solanine is a toxic glycoalkaloid known to accumulate under certain conditions in potato plant, sprouts and tuber in levels which, if ingested, may cause poisoning in humans and farm animals.
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