Eye eye!

[andrewlee]

Is it harmful to eat the eyes that grow on potatoes?

[froggequene]

When I boil potatoes in their skins I like to eat them with their skins on and since it isn't always possible to remove all the eyes, I wind up eating some as well and to date I am perfectly fine.

[WendyW]

According to http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_health_li
brary_frame.jspzQzpgzEz/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_adam.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcnszSzcontentzSzadamzSzencyzSzarticlezSz002875zPzhtm

.

Poisoning caused by consumption of green tubers and/or new sprouts of the potato plant. Alternative Names: Solanum tuberosum Poisonous Ingredient: * solanine (very toxic even in small quantities) Where Found: The toxin is found throughout the plant but especially in green potatoes and in the new sprouts. Never eat potatoes that are spoiled or green below the skin. Always throw away the sprouts. Potatoes that are not green and have had any sprouts removed are safe to eat

[Tizzy]

I read an article once on a tribe in Kenya who believed in eating potatoes that had turned green for health reasons ... however a large amount of the children had dissabilities etc and it turned out that it was because they ate the green potatoes!

[alflavor]

As a food technologist I would advise not to eat eyes on potatoes, or green bits. If small, cut them out and cook the potato as normal and you'll be fine.

[aloha]

Yes, and please keep your potatoes in the dark. The greenish skin comes from exposure to light. I have often seen grocers allowing their potatoes to turn green (I try to point it out to them). Solanine is pretty potent and unpleasant stuff. And please spread the word.