Why do people throw tomatoes?

Throwing rotten produce at unlucky targets is one of humanity's oldest forms of protest, predating even the cultivation of tomatoes. Though rotten tomatoes are commonly linked with Shakespeare's Globe Theater in Elizabethan London, tomatoes were still rare and weren't mentioned in the first English cookbook until 1752, almost 150 years later.

However, the act of throwing produce goes back even further. The earliest recorded instance occurred in A.D. 63 when Vespasianus Caesar Augustus was struck by turnips during a riot in Hadrumetum.

Rotten eggs were once used as a symbol of disdain in both religious and political protests. Historical documents from the 18th century mention people throwing rotten eggs at persecuted Methodists on the Isle of Man. This practice also spread to the New World, as evidenced by a speech from Frederick Douglass, where he recalls rotten eggs being thrown to disrupt antislavery meetings. The use of food as a weapon has traditionally been linked to its availability and low cost.

Learn when the first actor was hit with an overripe tomato.

Tomatoes as the Ultimate Weapon

Given their size and ease of handling, it was only a matter of time before tomatoes made their way to the stage. The earliest mention of rotten tomatoes being thrown at bad performances appeared in an 1883 New York Times article, detailing an incident where John Ritchie was struck by a barrage of tomatoes and rotten eggs from a displeased audience in New York. "[A] large tomato hurled from the gallery hit him squarely between the eyes, causing him to collapse onto the stage floor just as several rotten eggs dropped upon his head."

While throwing tomatoes is now deemed unacceptable as a form of audience participation, history shows that audiences had various ways of expressing their approval or disapproval. In the past, people would often chant, boo, or even throw rotten produce, as other forms of entertainment were scarce. Nowadays, theater-goers remain mostly silent, as if watching a film, but in earlier times, the crowd's reactions were far more vocal and active.

Find out more about the world's largest food fight next.

La Tomatina Tomato Battle

The La Tomatina Tomato Fight in Bunol, Spain, celebrates the tomato harvest with an old-fashioned food fight. The tradition began in 1944 but was officially recognized in 1952. The world's largest tomato battle takes place on the last Wednesday of August every year, attracting nearly 30,000 people for the week-long festival.

In modern times, theater audiences no longer throw rotten produce, regardless of the quality of the performance. Likewise, throwing turnips at politicians today would likely land you in jail. However, the rotten tomato remains society's nonlethal weapon of choice, leaving a lasting impact on the stage and beyond.