French Parliament officially banned potatoes in 1748. Potatoes were illegal to grow and consume in France for many years until a medical army officer named Antoine Auguste Parmitier. Parmitier was captured by the Prussians during the Seven Years War. While imprisoned, Parmitier and his fellow prisoners were fed only potatoes. He had eaten potatoes and survived. There was no leprosy. No other diseases. Nothing. In that same year, he managed to convince the French government to repeal the potato ban. The Potato is actually good all around. But hey, if you're shitting yourself to death, then the potato is actually good.