Tomato Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 2 min read| 4,079 found this helpful

Only fully ripe red tomato fruits are safe for consumption; all other plant parts and unripe green tomatoes are toxic.

Toxicity level is low, and very large quantities of toxic plant material must be ingested to cause severe adverse effects.

Symptoms of toxic ingestion are limited to mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset in most cases.

FAQ

Is Tomato toxic to Humans?

Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea (Low)

Is Tomato toxic to Cats?

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested (Low)

Is Tomato toxic to Dogs?

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested (Low)

Is Tomato toxic to Horses?

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested (Low)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea

Cats

Low

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested

Dogs

Low

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested

Horses

Low

No species-specific symptom data available; may present with gastrointestinal distress similar to humans if toxic parts are ingested

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsEntire plant except fully ripe tomato berries

Exposure RouteIngestion of toxic plant parts (leaves, stems, unripe green tomatoes)

Toxic CompoundsSolanum alkaloids; α-Tomatin; β-Tomatin; Serotonin

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Remove any remaining tomato plant material from the mouth of the affected individual or animal
• Rinse the mouth thoroughly with clean, cool water to eliminate residual toxin traces
• Avoid inducing vomiting unless explicitly directed to do so by a medical professional or veterinarian

Contact Vet Immediately

• Ingestion of large quantities of tomato leaves, stems, or unripe green fruits
• Development of persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or prolonged diarrhea after exposure
• Symptoms do not resolve within 2 hours for humans or 1 hour for companion animals

Prevention

• Keep tomato plant vines, leaves, and unripe green fruits out of reach of children and companion animals
• Only consume fully ripe, uniformly red tomato fruits; avoid eating raw unripe green tomatoes without proper preparation
• Do not feed tomato plant trimmings to livestock or companion animals as forage

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal if ingestion occurred within the past 2 hours
• Provide supportive care including oral or intravenous fluid replacement to prevent dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea
• Administer symptomatic treatment for pain and gastrointestinal discomfort as prescribed by a healthcare provider or veterinarian

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameLycopersicon esculentum Mill., Solanum lycopersicum L.

AliasesGarden tomato

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsLow

DogsLow

HorsesLow

Target Organs

Gastrointestinal tract

Mechanism of Action

• Solanum alkaloids (primarily α-tomatin) cause gastrointestinal mucosal irritation and disrupt cellular function when ingested in sufficient quantities

• Serotonin concentrations in tomato plant material are very low, so they do not contribute to adverse effects unless extremely large volumes are consumed

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle, sheep, and goats: Low toxicity risk; ingestion of large volumes of tomato plant trimmings may cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal distress

Small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs): Low toxicity; ingestion of small amounts of tomato foliage is unlikely to cause severe harm, but large intake may lead to digestive upset

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

False Jerusalem Cherry, Coral Tree Solanum capsicastrum

Belongs to the same Solanum genus; produces small bright orange/red berries that may be mistaken for cherry tomatoes, all plant parts are toxic

Costa Rican Nightshade Solanum wendlandii

Has a similar vining growth habit to tomato plants; all plant parts are toxic, unlike edible ripe tomato fruits

Jasmine Nightshade Solanum jasminoides

Has leaf morphology similar to some tomato varieties; all plant parts are toxic, with no edible fruit parts

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Related Toxic Plants

Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Moderate toxicity: green tubers, leaves, and stems are toxic, fully mature non-green tubers are edible

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Severe toxicity: all plant parts are highly toxic even in small quantities

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Low toxicity: leaves and stems are toxic, fully ripe fruits are safe for consumption

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.