Aussie mum's handwritten note sparks food safety debate

A piece of advice that an Aussie woman received from her mum in the form of a handwritten note has sparked a debate over food protocols, specifically whether it's safe to eat green potatoes.

"Throw out these green potatoes. When exposed to light, potatoes produce (solanine) a toxin harmful to eat as it is a neurotoxin. Store potatoes in the dark," the note, which was written on a napkin and placed on a basket of vegetables, reads.

Potentially harmful toxin

Sunlight exposure causes potato skin to turn green due to the formation of chlorophyll, which is harmless but appears alongside the more dangerous compound, solanine.

Solanine is a toxic chemical known to accumulate under certain conditions in potatoes, and if ingested may cause poisoning in people and livestock, according to the CSIRO. The organisation also notes that the chemical — a glycoalkaloid — isn't destroyed by cooking processes.

If enough of the toxin is consumed it may cause gastro, but due to poor absorption and rapid excretion in the stomach, it's less likely to be fatal to humans than animals, although it has reportedly caused deaths in both.

Advice divides Aussies

Scores of people offered their thoughts on the note, with opinion split over whether the mother's advice was correct or not. "She's right, you should not eat green potatoes and you should store potatoes in the dark," commented one user, while another agreed, "Green potatoes ARE toxic".

Meanwhile, a dissenter claimed, "I've been serving/eating green potatoes for 30+ years and never had an issue ever." Someone else shared that they'd seen a similar post by the daughter of a potato farmer who said "it was fine to eat them, just peel them".

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Experts settle debate

Yahoo News spoke to food scientist Tina McLeish to settle the debate once and for all. "In small quantities it's not a big deal, however if you're pregnant it's best to avoid," Ms McLeish said. "The toxins can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches and birth defects," she added.

Consumer expert Sarah Murphy also confirmed that to most people solanine in green potatoes won't be detrimental but recommends avoiding it in large quantities: "The best advice I give to people is to store your potatoes in a cool, dark place so they are as fresh as possible for as long as possible."

"Like any foods, especially if they're not as fresh as possible, depending on the person, it can make us feel sluggish, give us diarrhoea or cause us to become sick," Ms Murphy told Yahoo. She recommends that if a potato is green throughout or tastes bitter, it's best to throw it out.

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