All commercial potato varieties grown in North America are bred for low levels of solanine. |
We know that potatoes produce a toxin, solanine, unless they're grown and stored in a particular way. |
When the potato is green, chlorophyll and solanine levels dramatically increase. |
The ripe potato contains traces of solanine but its flowers, green leaves and sprouts contain higher levels of this toxin and are very poisonous. |
The fat-soluble neurotoxins solanine and chaconine are present in potatoes and can be detected in the bloodstream of all potato eaters. |
For example, potatoes contain solanine, mushrooms have strychnine, apples and apricots have cyanide. |