Nicotine Alkaloids In Solanaceous Food Plants

Nicotine has been detected in potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and sweet peppers, all food plants and members of the large family Solanaceae. The nicotine levels were extremely low in fresh potatoes, tomatoes and sweet peppers, below 10 μg/kg. Somewhat higher levels, but still very low amounts, were found in fresh eggplant fruits (up to 100 μg/kg). Processed products contained equivalent or slightly higher levels of nicotine than fresh products (up to 34 μg/kg). No other tobacco alkaloids have been detected in these food plants. The present report aims to summarize the data on occurrence of nicotine in Solanaceous food plants, discuss whether the demonstrated occurrence of nicotine is inherent in the food plants, and estimate the potential risk from the dietary exposure to nicotine from these foods. The report also summarize background information required as a part of the safety assessment required of genetically modified potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and sweet peppers.