Great, entertaining article! All these exotic New World substances, ranging from tobacco to chocolate to tomatoes and corn, were at various times considered either moral or medical dangers by Europeans.
And of course, there was the fad problem: once chocolate for drinking came into vogue in the 18th century and a little before, the clergy had to issue severe sanctions against ladies who came to mass and had their servants bring cups of hot chocolate to them during the service (it was cold in those big stone churches!).
The medical establishment was divided on things like coffee, chocolate, sugar and spices such as chile peppers. New World vegetables such as tomatoes and corn were regarded with suspicion, and corn was originally only used as an animal feed outside of certain parts of Spain and Itlay.
In the 18th century, a doctor in Northern Spain did detect a connection between heavy corn consumption and pellagra (which we now know to be a vitamin deficiency), something that was later confirmed in the US and actually was one of the first early 20th century health department campaigns. Of course, now we have freaks like Bloomberg trying to keep people from eating, drinking or smoking anything (except dope, I guess).
An interesting history!
great article, rare to find an article on tobacco that doesnt demonize it