World No Tobacco Day is observed on 31st May annually. It is organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to spread awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and to support laws that would reduce tobacco use. ‘We Need Food, Not Tobacco’ is the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2023
Individuals all around the world are prone to nicotine. Nicotine is a drug that is primarily found in tobacco plants. It causes “buzz” as it activates the brain’s pleasure centres, making you associate it with good feelings. It’s important to remember that nicotine is a highly addictive substance with potentially harmful health effects. Before using any nicotine products, it is always advised to consult with a healthcare professional.
However, many people may not know that nicotine is present in some everyday food items. The majority of nicotine-containing foods come from the Solanaceae plant family, which also contains the alkaloid. The nicotine content can be measured in micrograms (µg); one million µg equals one gram. The following items contain nicotine:
- Potatoes: A potato has 15 g/gram of nicotine. However, green and ripening potatoes have a higher nicotine content (42 µg/gram). The amount of nicotine in your potatoes may rise to about 52 µg/gram if you decide to puree or mash them.
- Tea: The amount of nicotine in tea is generally considered minimal and not a major issue for the majority of tea drinkers. Some brewed and instant black and green teas (in concentrations ranging from 100 to 285 µg/gram) contain nicotine.
- Green pepper: one of the most consumed vegetables and range in nicotine content from 7.7 to 9.2 µg/gram.
- Aubergine: 100 µg of nicotine are present per gramme of aubergine.
- Tomatoes: Nicotine content in a tomato is around 7.1 g/gram. Its concentration is higher in unripe tomatoes but it decreases as they ripen.