Alicia Silverstone sparked concern among her fans after sharing a TikTok video in which she seemed to pick and taste a potentially poisonous fruit she found in England.
In the video posted on Monday, the “Clueless” star asked for help identifying the unusual fruit, which resembled a small orange cherry tomato. “OK, I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out what it is, and I need your help,” Silverstone said. “I just bit into it because it was on the street and we were discussing whether this was a tomato or not.”
The fruit, which contained seeds reminiscent of a pepper, prompted Silverstone to question its safety. “So, what the heck is this? Because when you open it up, it looks like that,” she explained, showing a crushed fruit on the ground. “And if I bite it — I don’t think you’re supposed to eat this, but it’s almost like a pepper? Does anyone know what this is?”
Her followers quickly identified the fruit as Jerusalem cherry, native to South America and known to be toxic. According to GardeningKnowHow.com, the fruit and any part of the plant can cause poisoning and, in severe cases, death. Symptoms may include gastrointestinal issues and effects on the central nervous system, such as stomach pain, fever, diarrhea, paralysis, slowed breathing, and delirium, as noted on MedlinePlus.gov.
Fans expressed their worries in the comments section of the video. One user asked to be notified of Silverstone’s well-being, while another questioned why anyone would eat unknown items found on the street.
As of Tuesday morning, there was no update from Silverstone on her social media accounts. A representative for the actress did not respond to requests for comment.
Silverstone, who gained fame with her role in the 1995 film “Clueless,” published a vegan cookbook in 2009 titled “The Kind Diet,” promoting plant-based eating. On her website, TheKindLife.com, she emphasizes the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle, stating that such a diet helps strengthen the body and improve the immune system by eliminating excess fats and toxins.