🍎 Watch Out for "Red" Apples and "Apeel" Coverings on Your Produce
Heavy Metal Content Included
“Red” Apples
Do you see a lot of picture-perfect apples in your grocery store? Watch out, because some may be a result of synthetic dye, coated wax, or other processing that is meant to extend shelf-life and prevent rotting.
In the video below, we see that since yellow apples aren't as popular as the red ones, some producers simply paint them red.
If you love red apples, grow your own, if you can. In general, buy from local farmers and purchase those that are organic. Be a mini-homesteader.
Of all the fruits and vegetables sold, apples get the prize as the “most sprayed” fruit. The synthetic treatments can cause allergic reactions, including dyes, herbicides, and pesticides.
Spraying Yellow Apples
Bill Gates’ “Apeel”
Make no mistake: The Bill Gates’ funded and WEF-endorsed “non-organic” GMO chemical-filled covering called “Apeel” is allowed to be sprayed on “organic” produce. And that's not all.
Per the USDA, they can still legally call it “organic“, sometimes seen under the name, “Organopeel”.
Apeel is registered with EPA as a pesticide, under the “Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act”.
Apeel Main Ingredients
⬆️ Besides being 0.66% citric acid, whats in the other 99.34%?
The main ingredients are listed in Apeel’s application to the FDA.
The main ingredient is extracted from grapeseed oil, “monoacylglycerides”. I have seen other references incorrectly stating it is made of monoglycerides or diglycerides, which are then processed using two solvents: ethyl acetate and heptane. In the case of repeated exposure, both these latter solvents are known to cause health problems, but I don't see a reference on it.
The coating cannot be washed off or otherwise removed, although some sites recommend soaking in baking soda.
Heavy Metal Content: Palladium, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury
I am not certain how you determine the lot number, but this is the published information found on the last page of the Apeel Sciences letter, included as Reference #2, below:
Letter:
Last page of the document (I include only the heavy metal information; see Reference #2 for more)L:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cautions
Apeel causes eye irritation, and you're not supposed to get it on your clothes. Also, you are supposed to wear safety glasses when handling it - and keep it away from children 🤔 (I suppose children aren't supposed to eat these treated fruits or vegetables?)
And wash your hands after touching your fruit. And wash them after you touch them, BEFORE eating , drinking, chewing gum, chewing tobacco, or… using the toilet. (😮 I suppose you aren't supposed to let it touch your private parts.)
You can see there are very specific instructions on how to deliver first aid to your eyes, should they come in contact with Apeel 👇, including how to wash the eye and for how long, and a notice to call a poison control center or your doctor - and be sure to put the product container or label in front of your eyes before making the call.
Apeel Cautions
The Organic Material Review Institute
The OMRI approved Apeel’s certification as “organic”. They classify it under the Category “NOP: Fungicide” and Class: “Crop Pest, Weed, and Disease Control”. It was issued on April 28, 2017.
There are no ingredients listed here.
The FDA Application
This 45-page document whose cover letter is dated October 19, 2019, is included in the References. Here it clearly states that it is made of monoacylglycerides derived from grapeseed oil:
Cover Page Letter from Apeel to the FDA
Source: https://www.fda.gov/media/135999/download
The UK Safety Sheet
This document is nine pages and I will include them in the References. Here are bullet points made by a Telegram contributor on April 11, 2023:
"Don't eat anything with the "Apeel" sticker on it. It just appeared in our grocery stores saw it for the first time today. The cucumbers not wraped in plastic but there's a big sign says coated in Apeel to protect freshness and reduced plastic waste. The cucumbers also have a sticker on them with the word Apeel. I checked the company out its funded by Bill Gates and others and the WEF indorses it. And i checked there website out you can't find any info about what exactly is apeel. Look at the frequently asked questions. They even tell you there don't buy it if your worried. In Canada so far it's just on cucumbers and maybe apples. In the US it's avocados, apples and I think limes and lemons maybe cucumbers too. The company is very mysterious about what the product actually is. And it can't be washed off no mater how much scrubbing it even says this on the website in the FAQ. Supposedly it can make produce last up to 3 times longer. Also suddenly the price of cucumbers dropped today to just over $3 for 3 cucumbers in a pack or $1.27 a cucumber they really want people to buy these cucumbers." Safety data sheet says : APEEL Hazard statements H318 Causes serious eye damage. H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction. H412 Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Precautionary statements P280 Wear protective gloves/ protective clothing/ eye protection/ face protection. P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
https://www.evansvanodine.co.uk/assets/eng_apeel.pdf
Source: https://t.me/c/1700600441/11277
… To extend shelf life, but how would this reduce plastic waste? I cannot see the connection, other than you don’t throw away the plastic apple bags as often.
The UK lists Apeel under the Internal Classification of “Professional Hygiene” and the Identified Uses as a “Neutral, Hard Surface Cleaner”.
Health hazards include eye damage and skin sensitivity. It is harmful to aquatic life with adverse effects that are long lasting, and the list of precautionary statements shows additional dangers:
⬆️ The UK product contains alcohol ethoxylate and orange terpenes.
Which grocery stores commit to NOT using produce treated with Apeel?
Reportedly, Apeel can be used on apples, asparagus, avocados, cucumbers, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges.
Here is a list of grocers and Apeel considerations. For easier reference, I took this list and put it in alphabetical order:
Albertsons: Known to carry some produce items with Apeel.
ALDI: Aldi does not have a policy on Apeel and no employees are able to speak on it. They source produce from brands (West Pak & Limoneira) that use Apeel, but it is not clear whether the items they carry are treated with Apeel's coatings.
Azure Standard: Azure Standard (www.azurestandard.com) does not use or carry any products containing Apeel.
Bristol Farms: Sell citrus fruit with Apeel.
Bragg: Bragg does not source any apples that have been treated with Organipeel or Edipeel. Bragg makes it clear that none of their apples are treated with other waxes or coatings either.
Central Market: The Texas based gourmet grocery store is owned by H-E-B and shares their exact policy on Apeel.
Clark's Nutrition: The Los Angeles natural grocery market chain has decided to not carry any products with Apeel on it. They contacted all of their distribution partners to say they do not want any produce or items treated with Apeel.
Costco: Costco partnered with Apeel as far back as 2018 but recently stopped carrying any produce treated with Apeel. Their corporate produce department said they have no plans to ever sell produce treated with Apeel again. The Limoneira lemons they carry are not treated with Apeel.
Cub Foods: No disclosable policy. Known to sell limes treated with Apeel.
Erewhon: Does not source any produce treated with Apeel.
Fairway Market: Sell apples and avocados with Apeel.
Fred Meyer: Sell apples and avocados with Apeel.
Fresh Thyme: Fresh Thyme does not source any produce that has been treated with Apeel and has no plans to change this policy.
Giant: Giant does not utilize Apeel for their private brand products. They try to work with suppliers to ensure product labeling is done according to regulation. They carry produce from other brands treated with Apeel and cannot verify if is labeled on each item.
Hannaford: No disclosable policy on sourcing produce with Apeel.
H-E-B: H-E-B does not use any items treated with Apeel in the products they manufacture. They are not actively seeking out or requesting items treated with Apeel. The responsibility ultimately falls on their suppliers to adhere to their requests, so there is not a 100% guarantee.
Jimbo's: The San Diego Organic Grocery chain publicly states that they do not carry or accept any produce treated with Apeel.
Kimberton Whole Foods: The local PA health foods grocery store does not carry any produce that has been treated with Apeel.
Kroger: Kroger claims that produce items sold under their own label are not treated with Apeel food coatings. However, Kroger is not able to speak about or certify other produce brands that they carry. This policy applies to all of their locations and all of their subsidiaries as well including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Super Markets, Pick’n, Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smith’s Food and Drug. Kroger confirmed that other produce brands they carry are treated with Apeel. Kroger could not verify if their Simple Truth private label is treated with Apeel.
Love Whole Foods Cafe & Market: The two location Florida market has the following policy regarding Apeel. "Love Whole Foods Cafe & Market is currently working with our produce distributers to keep Apeel coated products out of our stores, and at the very least, expecting more transparency by requiring labeling on produce from companies that are choosing to use Apeel."
Market Basket: No exclusionary policy on sourcing produce with Apeel. Users report Apeel on apples.
Market Street: Sell avocados treated with Apeel.
Meijers: Carries some avocados and citrus with Apeel.
Natural Grocers: Natural Grocers issued a public corporate statement saying they do not carry any produce or items that have been treated with Apeel's food coatings.
Publix: Publix will not purchase any produce that's been treated with Apeel's food coatings.
Shaws: No disclosable policy. Sells produce items with Apeel.
Sprouts Farmers Markets: Sprouts recently made a decision to not carry any produce that's treated with Apeel. They annnounced this internally to employees, but have not made a public statement or policy yet.
Star Market: No disclosable policy. Sells produce items with Apeel.
Stop & Shop: No exclusionary policy on sourcing produce with Apeel.
Target: Target carries produce treated with Apeel including avocados, cucumbers, asparagus, apples, and citrus fruit.
The Fresh Market: Sell avocados and citrus fruit treated with Apeel.
Trader Joes: Trader Joes no longer sources any produce treated with Apeel's food coatings. They have not released a public statement or policy. I requested that they do this.
Walmart: Walmart does not use Apeel on any of their Walmart brand items. Walmart could not certify other produce brands carried in their stores. Consumers report they carry produce items with Apeel.
Whole Foods: Whole Foods would not give a clear or straightforward answer on if they source produce treated with Apeel. I spoke to three produce departments, three customer service representatives, and three corporate offices. One corporate office said Apeel's Edipeel and Organipeel food coatings meet Whole Food's safety standards. I went and looked at the produce and could not find any items treated with Apeel.
Wish Farms: None of their fruit is treated with Apeel.
Source: https://myhealthforward.com/blogs/my-health-forward-blog/apeel
“Inorganic” Apeel is allowed to be used on “organic” produce.
WHAT I REALLY THINK
This year, I started growing my own produce, water bath canning, baking my own sourdough bread and pizza dough, making jam, and dehydrating. I have lots of pictures and wondered which you would be most interested in 🙌!
Please comment to give me your feedback and insight!
References
Safety Data Sheet (In the UK and overseas, it may be called, “Edipeel”
Source: https://www.evansvanodine.co.uk/assets/eng_apeel.pdf
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Apeel Letter to FDA, Application
45 pages are here: Reference: https://www.fda.gov/media/135999/download
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Thank you for reading my writings!
Thank you for the Share, Seth. Very much appreciated. I hope you can get good produce!
And…Katy Witch Perry just bought Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar to partner with Gates in his Apeel apples..boycott and make own…I used to buy this forever but no more. Also Dole works with Disney.