Why do men hate raw tomatoes?

Chris was one of the most popular boys in my high school. He was the tough guy who wore his pants low and caused trouble in Central Park after school. My hot and rebellious crush didn't say much. When he did speak, it was a perfectly crafted wise crack that made girls swoon. It seemed like Chris wasn't afraid of anything or anyone and that was sexy.

During lunch, I always sat with my girlfriends, but one day Chris joined us. I nervously tried to look cute while eating my turkey sandwich but in my true and klutzy form my tomato slipped out and onto my plate. Chris' face went white. He was literally on the cusp of a gag. I asked what was wrong and he explained that raw tomatoes are the one thing that makes him frightened and nauseous. I was embarrassed and intrigued. I had managed to scare Mr. tough guy and learn about an interesting phenomenon that I later found out was not a Chris exclusive.

To my surprise, I've heard many men confess to having this same bizarre fear over the years. Have you ever heard about this male raw-tomato-hating trend? If so, do you have any theories on its' origin?

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