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How did we learn which plants are safe to eat? 2 food scientists explain

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · · 715 words · By Joel Johnson; Mani Naiker
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What to know about How did we learn which plants are safe to eat? 2 food scientists explain

The article explains the presence of toxic compounds in various plants and how humans have historically and scientifically developed methods to make them safe for consumption. It discusses the principle of dosage in toxicology and provides examples of plant preparation and genetic modification to reduce toxicity.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 17
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Have you ever eaten a green potato, or a bunch of rhubarb leaves?

Why it matters

Hopefully not, because these two plant parts can be toxic to humans.

Common ground

While they may seem edible, they contain chemicals that can make you seriously ill.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

The article explains the presence of toxic compounds in various plants and how humans have historically and scientifically developed methods to make them safe for consumption. It discusses the principle of dosage in toxicology and provides examples of plant preparation and genetic modification to reduce toxicity.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/how-did-we-learn-which-plants-are-safe-to-eat-2-food…

analyticsAnalysis

0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 7
info Single Source 3
verified Verified By Reference 2
check_circle Corroborated 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified 1
schedule
Claim 1: “during soybean fermentation, microbes break down harmful compounds such as phytates and trypsin inhibitors”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 2: “Faba beans naturally contain vicine and convicine”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 3: “In Australia, we have more than 1,000 native and introduced plant species that can be toxic to humans and animals, under certain conditions”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While the evidence discusses poisonous plants in general and the number of introduced species in Australia, no source specifically confirms the figure of 'more than 1,000 native and introduced plant species that can be toxic to humans and animals'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Taskmaster Australia is an Australian comedy panel game show first broadcast on Network 10 on 2 February 2023. Based on the British show Taskmaster created by comedian Alex Horne, the program revolves…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taskmaster_Australia
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a land area of 7,688,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Australians, colloquially known as Aussies, are the citizens, nationals and individuals associated with the country of Australia. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or ethno-cultura…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australians
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “Globally, there are tens of thousands of plants that contain toxic compounds”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim is explicitly stated in one web search result ('How did we learn which plants are safe to eat?'), but other results discuss herbicides or specific plants without confirming the 'tens of thousands' statistic.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... Globally, there are tens of thousands of plants that contain toxic compounds. ... plant species that can be toxic to humans and animals ...
https://theconversation.com/how-did-we-learn-which-plants-ar…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 18, 2026 ... It has also released tens of thousands of pounds of the chemical into the air. ... globally are registered to produce paraquat, and they have many ...
https://investigatemidwest.org/2026/05/18/this-herbicide-is-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — One of the world's most famous, and for some beloved, plants is also one of the most toxic. Tobacco is the most widely grown commercial non-food plant in the ...
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/plant-facts/worlds-most-poi…
check_circle
Claim 5: “green potatoes contain glycoalkaloids, a group of chemicals that can cause symptoms such as vomiting, fever and diarrhea when consumed in large amounts”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that green potatoes contain glycoalkaloids (like solanine) which can cause symptoms such as vomiting and nausea when consumed in large amounts.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — These were made from potatoes that were exposed to light and contain glycoalkaloids. You don’t need to toss the whole bag, but you may want to skip the green chips. “As long as you do not eat a lot, i…
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/is-it-safe-to-eat-green-potato…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sprouted potatoes can still provide some nutrition, including vitamins C and B6, potassium, and fibre. However, they may also contain higher levels of solanine, a natural toxin that can cause nausea, …
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/are…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Potatoes, Solanum tuberosum, contain steroidal glycoalkaloids that are toxic, derived through biosynthetic process from cholesterol.3 α-solanine and α-chaconine are the major glycoalkaloids in potatoe…
https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume4number3/a-rev…
schedule
Claim 6: “raw or undercooked kidney beans contain a natural toxin called phytohaemagglutinin”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 7: “these two plant parts [green potato, rhubarb leaves] can be toxic to humans”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general definitions of the color green and do not mention potatoes or rhubarb leaves.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It has 295-350 different shades. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495–570 nm. In subtractive color s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Green is a deep and classic shade that embodies nature and vitality. It sits squarely between blue and yellow on the color wheel —a quintessential, saturated hue, neither veering towards light lime no…
https://www.figma.com/colors/green/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 15, 2024 · Green is a fresh and vibrant color that can be seen in nature, from lush forests to rolling hills and fields of deep green grass. Many people recognize the traditional, classic shade: f…
https://creativebooster.net/blogs/colors/shades-of-green-col…
info
Claim 8: “Oxalates are a type of toxin found in rhubarb leaves”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence describes rhubarb stalks as edible and used for food, but does not mention oxalates or toxins in the leaves.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks (petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) of Rheum in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. [2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mar 27, 2026 · Rhubarb growing is one of the first signs of spring every year. The edible stalks are most commonly treated like a sour fruit, featured in pies, tarts, jams, and more.
https://www.southernliving.com/what-is-rhubarb-8611427
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Learn how to grow rhubarb, a low-maintenance perennial that thrives for 10+ years. Discover when to plant, how to care for, and tips for harvesting this tart, versatile vegetable!
https://www.almanac.com/plant/rhubarb
schedule
Claim 9: “by soaking and thoroughly boiling kidney beans, you can easily get rid of this toxin [phytohaemagglutinin]”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 10: “scientists have used modern chemistry and plant breeding to develop new faba bean varieties with lower concentrations of these compounds [vicine and convicine]”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 11: “Some Aboriginal communities in northern Australia would soak, grind or cook cycad seeds to remove naturally occurring toxins before consumption”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim.
verified
Claim 12: “Crops such as wheat and rice provide carbohydrates”
VERIFIED
Multiple sources confirm that carbohydrates provide calories and energy for the body, and wheat/rice are well-known primary sources of these carbohydrates.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Carbohydrates, simple sugars, and complex carbohydrates provide us with calories, or energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQi84TnstI4
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohy…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On the nutrition label, the term "total carbohydrate" includes all three types of carbohydrates. This is the number you should pay attention to if you are carbohydrate counting.
https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/understanding-carbs/type…
help
Claim 13: “cyanide, a poisonous chemical found in the plant’s [cassava] roots and leaves”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim.
verified
Claim 14: “cassava was first domesticated in South America”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other sources explicitly state that cassava originated and was first domesticated in South America (specifically the Amazon rainforest).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — ... first domesticated no more than 10,000 years ago. Forms of the ... This disease originated in South America and has followed cassava around the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is believed to have originated in South America, specifically in the Amazon rainforest, over 8,000 years ago. The ...
https://www.facebook.com/globalcropdiversitytrust/posts/cass…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Cassava was domesticated no more than 10,000 years ago (the origin of human agriculture), which makes the divergence of the crop lineage a very recent ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC21904/
schedule
Claim 15: “this condition [favism] can be life-threatening as it causes your red blood cells to rapidly break down”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 16: “the tobacco plant which produces nicotine, a natural alkaloid that helps protect the plant from insect attacks”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources confirm that tobacco plants produce nicotine as a defense mechanism against insects and predators.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Plants are not exposed to herbivores without defenses. When an insect feeds on a leaf, thereby wounding it and releasing oral secretions, a signaling cascade is elicited in the plant, usually.
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/58035/20230822/wild…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Learn which vegetables naturally contain trace amounts of nicotine, why it occurs in foods like tomatoes and potatoes, and how the levels compare.
https://www.northerner.com/us/the-northerner/research/nicoti…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The tobacco plant produces nicotine to protect itself from predators and insects since nicotine is toxic and can exterminate them.2. Elmassry, M.M.; Zayed, A.; Farag, M.A. Gut homeostasis and microbio…
https://nanobioletters.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/228468…
schedule
Claim 17: “in people with a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency, they [vicine and convicine] can trigger a serious reaction called favism”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.