Chiranjeevi Carrera

I always took it as a joke about social anxiety! The tomato is like a shy person who gets embarrassed easily. Seeing the "salad dressing" (the act of getting dressed) makes it self-conscious so it blushes (turns red). It's a playful way to anthropomorphize food.

The joke works because it subverts expectations. When you hear "Why did the tomato turn red?" you might think of a biological reason like sun exposure or ripening. The punchline is completely unrelated to science relying instead on a human emotional response tied to a pun. It's a gateway joke that leads to other vegetable puns like "What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta!" Don't overthink it—just enjoy the groan-worthy humor.