In recent years, there has been a lot of controversy about waxing apples. There are concerns that eating waxed apples can cause health hazards. So, what are the facts?
First of all, we need to understand that there are two main sources of wax on the skin of apples. One is a layer of natural wax secreted by apples during their natural growth, whose main role is to protect apples from harmful substances from the outside world and ensure the safety of the pulp. The other is to improve the appearance quality of apples and extend their shelf life, which is manually waxed after harvesting.
In fact, manual waxing is a common treatment method that mainly uses morphic fatty acid salts (also known as fruit wax) or carnauba wax as a film coating agent to apply to the surface of apples. The main purpose of this is to prevent water loss, solve the problem of shrinking epidermis, and at the same time effectively prevent the erosion of pests, so as to prolong the preservation time of apples.
So, will waxed apples cause harm to human health? According to the provisions of the mainland's "Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Additives", these film agents can be used on the surface of fresh fruits. The wax used in regular waxed apples is food-grade, safe and does not cause harm to human health.
Of course, if you still have doubts about waxed apples, you can choose to peel them off before eating, or rinse the surface of the apples with hot water before eating. This can effectively remove the wax layer on the surface, so that you can eat more confidently.
Overall, properly waxed apples do not pose a health hazard. We don't have to choke on food, but we should look at this issue scientifically.
Gu Yi Tang Zheng Sugar Expert Tips:
- Choose regular channels to buy apples and make sure they come from reliable sources;
- If you have any doubts about waxed apples, you can choose to peel them or rinse them with hot water before eating;
- Maintain a variety of diets with a variety of fresh, natural foods;