At our Wegmans, they cover up the potatoes for the night. Just the potatoes. Everything else is sold without restrictions. And it’s always been this way. Moreover, if you really crave potatoes, the organic russet potatoes in bags aren’t completely covered, and you can grab them without noticing they’re not for sale. The cashiers, I’m sure, will ring up any potato.
Update: they told me why. So that it can sleep!
I figured it out. Or rather, I asked. Potatoes deteriorate quickly in the light. To put it briefly. But more fully:
Potatoes, like tomatoes and eggplants, belong to the nightshade family, which contains the toxin solanine. Although these plants always contain some amount of solanine, the toxin increases when the potatoes are exposed to light. That’s why they should be stored in complete darkness. Under the influence of light, the skin and the flesh under the skin of the potatoes turn green. While the green color itself is harmless chlorophyll, the green color indicates the presence of solanine.
If one consumes enough solanine, the toxin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, headache, paralysis of the central nervous system, coma, and, in rare cases, death. How much is too much? It depends on the ratio of body mass to the amount of toxin ingested, as well as each individual’s tolerance to alkaloid toxins. A small child might need only a small amount, while an adult might need to ingest several green potatoes to feel the effects. The best way to avoid poisoning from solanine is not to eat green potatoes.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 