Apeel's Edipeel & Organipeel Food Coatings
What it is and why you should avoid it.
Apeel Edipeel is an edible coating product manufactured by the California company Apeel Sciences. The company claims the coating makes avocados, citrus and other fruit last twice as long.
You will not find Apeel listed on product labels, so you won’t know you are consuming it unless the store provides a sign.
Apeel Edipeel has been commercially applied on apples, cucumbers, avocados, asparagus, limes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges — without labeling. The coating is allowed for use on all fruits and vegetables in Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, and South Africa, without restriction. Additionally, Edipeel is allowed for use on the following fruits in the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom: avocados, citrus fruit, mangoes, papayas, melons, bananas, pineapples, and pomegranates
Organipeel is another Apeel product meant for organic food. It is registered with the EPA as a pesticide (a fungicide, specifically). According to this registration, the “active ingredient” of the product is 0.66% citric acid, which can be used as a fungicide. Citric acid is an allowed nonsynthetic in organic food (see § 205.605 of the National List).
However, the majority of Organipeel’s ingredients are monoglycerides and diglycerides, fatty acids derived from plants. These fatty acids are used in processed food products including ice cream, candy, gum, and even baked goods, but they are not ingredients consumers would reasonably expect to find on their fresh fruit and produce.
Apeel’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Approval
In the company’s application for Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) approval, Apeel cites several studies on the general safety of grapeseed oil derived monoglycerides and diglycerides, but there are no studies on the specific effects of Apeel’s products on humans or the environment.
Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, any substance that is intentionally added to food is a “food additive” and is subject to premarket review and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, if the substance is considered “generally recognized as safe” by experts, the product is exempt from premarket approval. This GRAS provision has been in effect since the 1958 Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act.
In 1997, the voluntary GRAS “affirmation process” was replaced with a voluntary US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) GRAS Notice process. Under the current GRAS Notice process, pivotal safety data are required to be in the public domain, and consensus of safety among experts is required.
According to Apeel’s GRAS Notice, its edible coatings contain residues including ethyl acetate, heptane, palladium, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. The company states that they use ethyl acetate and heptane as solvents. The FDA concluded that the residues of these substances were below their required limits.
Apeel states, “residue levels have been set to no more than 10% of the most conservative recommended exposure limit from the literature for each solvent.” The coating is not “expected” to travel into the fruit beyond the peel.
Read the entire GRAS Notice in the PDF:
Safety Concerns
Many are rightfully concerned about the safety of Apeel’s products. Produce sprayed with this mysterious coating means consumers are exposed to unknown ingredients as well as the byproducts of their processing. They claim that the coating is not “expected” to travel into the fruit beyond the peel. So you might want to peel your apples before consuming them.
The official Apeel website not reassuring. It is a big nothing-burger with a lot of color and animations that can make you dizzy and frustrated. Their website does not provide any proof of safety via scientific studies. There are no quotes from scientists validating the safety of the product. There is ZERO transparency.
To make matters worse, there is a lot of confusion due to the fact that a U.K. company also manufactures a product called “Apeel,” which is a toxic hard surface cleaner. If you end up on their website, you will be terrified!
Some Thoughts: So Organipeel for organic produce is classified as a Pesticide, BUT the regular Edipeel is okay for human consumption??? In addition, if you are consuming apples coating with Apeel’s product, every day, then that 10% for each solvent can add up fast. Residues of toxic chemicals and heavy metals need special detoxification. Humans have trouble excreting heavy metals. I know because I had severe mercury poisoning. You need a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for that.
James Rogers, Founder and CEO of Apeel Sciences
In 2012, James Rogers, PhD, founded Apeel Sciences after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help reduce post-harvest food waste in developing countries that lacked refrigeration infrastructure. The company claims they offer a “sustainable approach” to the world's growing food demands.
Rogers received dual undergraduate degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in Materials Science & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, and he received his PhD in Materials from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Rogers was the 2012 recipient of the Frank J. Padden Jr. Award in polymer physics, the premier polymer physics prize in the United States.
In 2020, Rogers became a World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader.
Apeel has partnerships with:
Nature’s Pride (large importer of Europe’s avocados)
Sage Fruit Co. (Washington State organic apple producer)
Del Monte (avocados)
Eco Farms (avocados)
Del Rey (avocados)
Horton Fruit Company (avocados)
RV Aguacates (avocados)
Alpine Fresh (asparagus)
Beta (asparagus)
Farm Direct Supply (asparagus)
La Venta (asparagus)
SiCar Farms (limes)
“Apeel’s supplier network allows us to connect with retailers and other companies who look to technology for solutions that deliver superior products, increase profits and reduce our environmental footprint. […] We’re proud and honored to stand with this incredible network of industry leaders who are shaping the future of food.”
— Gordon Robertson, chief revenue officer at Apeel Sciences.
Follow the Money
In addition to safety concerns, consumers might want to avoid any product with Apeel on it for these reasons:
Apeel Sciences received a $100,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012 and again in 2015.
The Rockefeller Foundation gave funds to Apeel.
Anne Wojcicki (23andMe) gave funds to Apeel.
Oprah Winfrey gave funds to Apeel.
My Thoughts: Food is NOT technology, and I don’t want technology in my food. In addition, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WEF are NOT our friends. In June 2018, the Apeel corporation was named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer.
Companies That Claim They Don’t Use Apeel
The following list is based on public disclosures of these companies, growers and grocery retailers. Keep in mind that some grocery stores apply a coating containing natural or synthetic waxes, which usually can be washed off with soap and water. Whereas, the Apeel coating appears to be indestructible.
Of course, it is always best ask your grocer directly. For example, I am finding conflicting reports online regarding Cosco. And in my neighborhood, Cosco’s apples have an impenetrable glaze that is impossible to remove. Whereas, Natural Grocers and Sprouts have signs stating they will not use Apeel.
In addition, some store representatives might be sneaky enough to say “No, we don’t use Apeel” — but they are in fact using Organipeel.
It might be the case that stores some regions or states are still using Apeel, perhaps because they have a warehouse full of produce coated with it and they would take a massive loss if they dumped it. In addition, the suppliers must take action and comply with requests from the stores. This means that stores are perhaps unable to stop this deadly scheme.
Natural Grocers: Issued a corporate statement that they don’t carry any produce or items that have been treated with Apeel's food coatings.
Sprouts Farmers Markets: Sprouts recently made a decision to not carry produce treated with Apeel.
Costco: Costco partnered with Apeel as far back as 2018 but recently stopped carrying any produce treated with Apeel. There are conflicting reports: Their corporate produce department said they have no plans to ever sell produce treated with Apeel again. But are reports that state the opposite. Nevertheless, there is still an impenetrable coating on their apples.
Publix: Does not purchase any produce that's been treated with Apeel.
Central Market & H-E-B: The Texas based grocery store 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.
Whole Foods: Whole Foods would not give a clear or straightforward answer regarding their use of Apeel. One corporate office said Apeel's Edipeel and Organipeel food coatings meet Whole Food's safety standards.
Trader Joes: Trader Joes no longer sources any produce treated with Apeel's food coatings. They have not released a public statement or policy.
Jimbo's: The San Diego Organic Grocery chain publicly states that they do not carry or accept any produce treated 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.
Kroger: Kroger claims that produce items sold under their own label are not treated with Apeel food coatings. 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. And 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.
Target: Target carries produce treated with Apeel including avocados, cucumbers, asparagus, apples, and citrus fruit.
Walmart: Walmart does not use Apeel on any of their Walmart brand or private label produce items. Walmart could not certify other brands in their stores.
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.
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."
Fresh Thyme: Does not source any produce that has been treated with Apeel.
Giant: Does not utilize Apeel for their brand products. However, they carry produce from other brands treated with Apeel and cannot confirm if the labels disclose the coating.
Bragg: Does not source any apples that have been treated with Organipeel or Edipeel. Bragg states that none of their apples are treated with waxes or coatings.
Sources:
My Health Forward. Grocery & Produce Brand Policies on Apeel. Updated December 8th, 2023.
Angelo Fichera. “Posts misrepresent safety of produce-protecting solution from Apeel,” April 18, 2023.
The Cornucopia Institute. “Apeel and Edible Coatings: Your Questions Answered.” Last updated August 9, 2023.
Ashley Roberts & Lois A. Haighton. “A Hard Look at FDA’s Review of GRAS Notices.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Vol. 79, Supplement 2, August 31, 2016.
The Milken Institute. James Rogers, Founder and CEO, Apeel Sciences.
Fresh Plaza (Asia). Apeel Sciences announces supplier partnerships.
Moms Across America. "‘Apeel’ Fruit and Vegetable Protective Coating Is Not So Appealing When You Break It Down” by Anne Temple. April 28, 2023.
Holy hell! When I got to the part where you talk about following the money, and which stores are selling products with this, I was both surprised and not. I had heard of Apeel's Edipeel, but not the Organipeel and found your dives into them both informative. I feel as though one day the news will be playing, and the host will be covering some amazing discovery that gets pushed into every walk of life. And shortly therafter, a hellscape scenerio from I Am Legend, Resident Evil will be transpiring, or worse. I appreciate your work :) Sincerely looking forward to seeing what else you share! Keep being awesome. Kind regards