Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site bu-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!bu-cs!root From: root@bu-cs.UUCP (Barry Shein) Newsgroups: net.cooks Subject: Re: mashed potatoes and peels Message-ID: <496@bu-cs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 23:11:39 EDT Article-I.D.: bu-cs.496 Posted: Tue Jul 16 23:11:39 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 04:38:03 EDT References: <2057@burdvax.UUCP> Organization: Boston Univ Comp. Sci. Lines: 24 Ok, not to claim *any* authority or even a terribly reliable source I turned on my local talk radio driving in to work the other day and there was a show called 'Food hour' on, the entire hour seemed dedicated to potatoes and had some 'potato experts' on the call line (what does that mean?? I think they were farmers, which I guess is good enough credentials for me, if not a little vested.) Someone called raving about the poison solanine (sp. ? this was radio and I don't have a Merck handy.) The farmer calmed him down and assured him that this was only contained in the peels when the peels were green or greenish in color. She also assured him that this is caused by the potatoes being stored in direct light at the grocer or at home and is why most farmers prefer to pack in light tight paper bags. Ok peel eaters (including myself!) is this cause for concern? What is solanine? How poisonous? How green is green? Is it really the peels only? Is this destined to become the great solanine coverup? What disturbed me was the farmer seemed to agree with the guy. I anxiously await your replies. -Barry Shein, Boston University