Is wax on apples harmful and why is it needed?

Apples may be treated with chemicals several times during the season. These treatments are applied to the fruit itself, as well as to the flowers, leaves, and roots. Treating the fruit with a special type of petroleum product is essential for long-term storage. This prevents the growth of microorganisms. Before eating, such apples should be thoroughly washed.

Do apples secrete their own wax?

During the growth and ripening process, apples develop a natural protective coating. This natural wax consists of fatty acid esters. It effectively protects the fruit from wrinkling, drying out, and rotting. This layer, composed of a mixture of aromatic substances, smells like a natural apple.

Absolutely all fruit and berry crops have their own wax.Nature itself has taken care to protect fruits and berries from various environmental influences and from rapid rotting in the event of bacteria or worms.

But at the same time, this sticky shell absorbs large amounts of dust and harmful chemicals. Pure nature doesn't contain such aggressive components. But in the modern realities of urban life, and not only urban life, the fruits are left unprotected. All exhaust gases and emissions into the atmosphere settle on them..

Natural protection can no longer play a beneficial role for humans. In any case, the fruit must be washed. Moreover, long-distance transportation is not naturally intended. In the wild, apples are consumed immediately after being picked from the tree. However, long-distance transportation disrupts the natural processes within the fruit. The protective film cannot ensure the integrity of the apple. This is why additional processing is necessary.

Why are apples coated with wax?

Under natural conditions, apples are covered with natural wax even on the tree. This explains the fruit's matte surface. The natural protective film on the peel protects the fruit from adverse external influences. Apples are not affected by the scorching sun, nor is excess oxygen.

After mass harvesting, the fruit is washed to remove accumulated chemicals and dust particles. This process removes the natural wax coating. Apples quickly wilt and spoil. To prevent this and ensure careful transportation to the point of sale, they are coated with a special food-grade paraffin.

What kind of wax do they use to coat apples?

Apples are coated with various types of wax to preserve their freshness. These treated fruits are then stored and transported safely to their final destination.

Natural

Natural types of wax coating include:

• beeswax;
• palm wax;
• shellac;
• petrolatum.

This combined wax treatment on fruit is completely safe for health and helps preserve the fruit's excellent appearance. Apples coated with natural wax can be stored for months and can be transported multiple times.

This protection occurs by creating a barrier that minimizes external mechanical stress. Rotting processes in fruits are slowed. And, importantly, ripening is slowed. The shelf life of fruits is extended significantly.

Natural compounds are applied using special devices called sprayers. This creates a minimal layer that can be easily removed from the apple's surface. If the natural wax secreted by the fruit is washed off, it is replaced by a much thinner natural wax.

The simplest way to create natural wax is with ethyl alcohol and purified propolis. All apples are sprayed and then carefully dried. This preserves not only the internal freshness Apples are not only healthy on the outside, but also on the outside. Ripe fruits show no visible signs of spoilage, have delicate skin, and retain their original color.

Wax is essentially a natural beekeeping product, and in small quantities is completely harmless to humans. However, its use on an industrial scale is expensive, so manufacturers often resort to artificial alternatives.

Artificial

Imported apples are often found on store shelves coated with synthetic paraffin. This unique hydrocarbon mixture is an artificial wax. It is produced by distilling petroleum products. When paraffin substances enter the human body, they cannot be broken down into their individual components and absorbed into the bloodstream. The damage they can cause is enormous, including disrupting the gastrointestinal tract.

Artificial wax is less expensive for manufacturers, so they don't neglect the opportunity to use it for commercial purposes. This coating is applied in a similar way, using a special sprayer. The thickness of the coating depends on the power of the machine and the correct application technique.

According to regulations, all fruits must be treated with artificial compounds in a certain proportion, which must not be exceeded. Artificial paraffin, in particular, can cause serious harm to human health, so manufacturers strive to adhere to this rule. Furthermore, the thinner the coating, the cheaper the process.

So is wax on apples harmful or not?

Medical experts disagree on the safety of apple wax. Some argue that wax is safe in any form, whether natural or artificial. This group cites the fact that the coating on each fruit is so minimal that no critical amount of harmful substances can enter the body. Furthermore, anyone eating store-bought apples should thoroughly wash them under running water.

Other experts view the wax coating on fruits with caution. They believe that despite the fruit's visual quality and freshness, it poses a serious health risk. The wax coating prevents juice loss and water evaporation. This keeps the fruit fresh for a long time, and its taste and appetizing appearance delight consumers.

But if this layer is not washed off properly, the paraffin particles consumed will settle on the intestinal walls, as they cannot be digested in the stomach. Furthermore, gastric juice is unable to dissolve the wax even into several components.

Paraffin itself is a petroleum product. The human body is powerless against the molecules of this substance. Even the liver can't recycle sticky mass and remove it safely.

Thus, the paraffin film is deposited in various parts of the body. Add to this the synthetic components that enter the body through chemicals and unhealthy foods, and you can develop serious illnesses. Which is essentially what we have today.

How to remove wax from apples

Fruits from our own gardens arrive on our tables with a natural protective film, which only attracts dust and dirt. These can be removed by simply rinsing the fruit under running warm water. However, for fruits from store shelves, this procedure is sometimes insufficient. To remove the outer protective layer without causing harm to the body, follow these steps:

1. First, prepare a deep bowl and fill it with hot, boiled water. Place the apples in it and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Leaving them longer will only be beneficial. The thin waxy coating will come off the surface.
2. Additionally, sprinkle the contents of the dish with a mixture of lemon juice and soda in a 1:1 ratio. Let it sit for another 10–15 minutes.
3. Wipe each fruit with a soft brush or sponge to remove any remaining plaque.

Sometimes, after these manipulations, the apples still have a glossy, suspicious color. In this case, it's better to play it safe and peel the fruit.

You can also peel apples using alternative methods:

• I dip the apples in boiling water for a couple of seconds and immediately remove them. I quickly wipe them with a rough cloth while they're still warm. This will remove all the excess wax, and the apple will lose its artificial shine.
• You can sprinkle the apples with sodium bicarbonate and add a spoonful of lemon juice. Pour warm water over the apples for 20 seconds, remove them, and brush them with a toothbrush. Afterward, rinse the apples under warm running water.

The wax coating on apples is now common and natural for us consumers. Before eating, everyone rinses the fruit thoroughly under running water or uses more drastic cleaning methods. Natural wax has not been shown to cause harm, but artificial wax can cause certain health problems. It's important to carefully select fruits from store shelves and thoroughly clean them before eating.