“[Bennett says] that he has successfully treated serious diarrhea with [tomatoes] alone.” — The New England Farmer¹

Dr. John C. Bennett, an early supporter of tomatoes, played a significant role in popularizing the fruit in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s. He claimed that tomatoes could cure various ailments such as diarrhea and indigestion, urging people to consume them raw or as sauces, pickles, and catsup.² Bennett said that a "thorough study" of ancient texts proved that tomatoes were indigenous to all parts of the world.³ However, it is now known that tomatoes originated in South America and were cultivated by the Aztecs.⁴ Bennett controversially insisted that tomatoes should not be propped up on sticks, believing this contradicted God or nature's intentions.^3,5 His influence contributed to the rise of tomato-based medicine, with tomato pills eventually being promoted as a cure for all ailments.^3,5

1. “Virtues of the Tomato,” The New England Farmer, September 2, 1835

2. Deborah J. Benoit, “A History of Tomatoes,” uvm.edu

3. Livia Gershon, “Tomatoes as Medicine,” daily.jstor.org

4. K. Annabelle Smith, Updated by Kayla Randall, “How the Misrepresentation of Tomatoes as Stinking ‘Poison Apples’ That Provoked Vomiting Made People Afraid of Them for More Than 200 Years,” smithsonianmag.com

5. Becky Rupp, “Tomatoes. Good for What Ails You?,” foodgardening.mequoda.com