How safe is the wax on apples?

Fruit waxing is the process of covering fruits (and in some cases vegetables) with artificial waxing material. Waxing materials may be either natural or petroleum-based.

The primary reasons for waxing are to prevent water loss (making up for the removal in washing of the natural waxes in fruits that have them, particularly citrus but also, for example, apples) and thus retard shrinkage and spoilage, and to improve appearance.

 

Coating of apples is carried out by applying a thin layer of wax on the surface. The coating process can be carried out by either dipping, brushing or spraying with wax.

The apples, naturally have a natural wax coating on their surface. This natural wax coating helps to protect the apple fruit from shriveling and weight loss. However, prior to packaging of the apple fruits, they are washed by scrubbing the surface to remove dirt and chemical residues (if they are not organic). This scrubbing removes approximately 50% of the natural wax coating.

Sometimes, apples have to be transported over long distances to the intended markets. During transport it is important to slow ripening. Wax coat can be applied on the apples surface to slow the ripening process.

To replace the natural wax coating, processors apply other recommended waxes on the surface of apples. The waxes applied on apples can either be animal wax, vegetable wax or mineral and synthetic wax, these waxes are from natural sources including Carnauba that wax, the leaves of the Brazilian palm and approved for use so are considered safe to eat.  After applying wax, the fruits assumes glossy and firm appearance which is considered as an important quality in apples.

You can try it, pick an apple from a tree, rub that apple on your shirt, you'd notice that it shines, and that's because you've just polished off the natural waxes and also yeasts that the apple produces in order to protect its high water content. And without that wax, fruits and vegetables would end up going all dry and nasty.

Even some suncreams and cosmetics like lipsticks and coatings for medications contains Carnauba  – so if we really want to avoid them we would have to be careful with other things too.

At the moment, waxes used on apples are considered safe for human consumption. However, governments are supposed to enforce strict measures to ensure some petroleum-based waxes are not used. 

If you are not sure of what to do, thoroughly clean the apple fruit or remove the entire peel to get rid of the wax (but the peel contains polyphenol antioxidants and fibre ) before enjoying it.

Did you Know? Apples are covered with WAX..