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What is Apeel Coating?

What is Apeel Coating?

Posted on October 01 2024


Thank you again to another one of our fantastic newsletter subscribers who has emailed me with information about Woolworths and their response to his questions about wether or not their suppliers/growers use Apeel coating.

They responded saying that .. “To their knowledge, no supplier in New Zealand uses Apeel.”  That is really good to know and I do hope this is the case. Of course the safest option is to buy from local growers, or if you can, grow your own fruit. Many people are not able to do this, so the next best option is to buy organic.

This is from a concerned New Zealander ... 

I read your article about Apeel and wanted to share my own experience. Over the past month, I’ve been in contact with Woolworths multiple times trying to get clear information regarding its use. 

After many emails and phone calls, I finally received the following vague response:

“Woolworths does not directly apply chemical sprays on fruit and vegetables. WW sources all fruit and vegetables from suppliers who hold relevant food safety certification. New Zealand food safety certification standards require suppliers to demonstrate that they are able to control the use of agriculture compounds in line with the New Zealand regulatory requirements.”

When I pointed out that this didn’t actually answer my question — “Do Woolworths or any of your growers use Apeel on any of your produce?” — their response was:

“To their knowledge, no supplier in New Zealand uses Apeel.”

I’ve received similarly evasive replies when asking about BPA, both through direct contact and on social media. These non-committal answers allow for plausible deniability, but don’t provide the transparency customers are asking for.

 And previously I also heard from Dion ...

Regarding the ongoing issue of Apeel coating, I have been contacted by another one of our newsletter subscribers, Dion, who pointed out some disturbing information regarding how this coating can be used.

Dion pointed out that big food groups are very good at the 'legal interpretation' and 'reinterpretation' of information to suit themselves.

Foodstuffs did say that there is no need for Apeel as their supply chain is short and the produce is fresh, what they did not say is that 'Apeel is not part of their direct processing!'

Which means that the application could be done by the growers and the packing plants.

Apeel is applied in two stages;

Stage 1- Before harvest it’s called invisipeel, it has pesticidal, fungicidal and preservative qualities.

Stage 2 – After harvest called Edipeel, it is a physical barrier

Together they are called Apeel, it can only be applied by an apeel scientist, or someone trained by the scientist. It cannot be washed off. Ref:


Thanks Dion for this information.


Sarah from Low Toxin Rabbit has been researching Apeel coating, also called additive E471 here in New Zealand. Sarah is a wealth of information on all things to do with clean living and detoxing oneself from everyday toxins. I highly recommend checking out her website lowtoxinrabbit.com

I have updated our blog that looked at Apeel several months ago with Sarah's information.

There is good news for organic produce as major organic certifier @biogronz has not approved Apeel for use on organic produce. In New Zealand, Pak N Save and large apple producer Yummy have confirmed they do not use Apeel.

It would be great if you could help us collect more information by contacting Woolworths/Countdown and New World to find out if they stock Apeel fruit and vegetables! So far we have not had any response so the more people that email them the better. If you find out anything please let me know. triona@greengoddess.co.nz.

** Update ... one of our lovely customers, Robyn, contacted Foodstuffs NZ and heard back, they confirmed that "Apeel is not used here. Our Supply Chains are relatively short and produce is super fresh which means we have no need for it." **

From Sarah ...

Why should be concerned about Apeel?

🔬 What’s it Made Of? (more information on this is in the blog below) Apeel is made from plant-derived mono- and diglycerides. Sounds okay, but….

Apeel contains lead, cadmium, arsenic, palladium, and mercury. The company claims these levels are small enough that it will not harm consumers, earning the USDA’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” classification. Apeel claims a person would need to consume 30,000 apples to ingest 1 kg of their coating. However, it’s important to consider that even smaller amounts of heavy metals can accumulate in the body over time. Saying there are only trace amounts in a single piece of produce may be misleading, as individuals could consume thousands of apples throughout their lives, leading to daily exposure to these metals.

Apeel’s production process involves solvents like heptane and ethyl acetate, which are also found in products like engine fluids and varnishes. Sounds health right.

🌟 What is Apeel for those who do not know? Apeel is a food coating technology designed to extend the shelf life of produce by keeping moisture in and oxygen out.

👩🌾 What Can You Do?

Support Local Farmers: Buy produce directly from local farmers who can assure you of their growing practices. 🌾🥕 Voice Your Concerns: Contact your local grocery stores, especially large chains, and let them know you prefer produce without an Apeel coating. 🛒📢

🗣️ Be Vocal! Make your voice heard to ensure that your fruits and veggies stay free from unwanted coatings. As a collective we can keep it off all our food including conventionally grown and organic.

More information on Apeel posted previously by Triona ...

Apeel Sciences has developed a plant-derived ('derived' meaning that the product started out as a whole plant, however, it doesn't account for how the product is processed before it reaches its final form) coating made from natural materials that is applied to fresh produce to extend its shelf life.

I am having a hard time finding out if Apeel is being used in New Zealand, if anyone has any information on this please do get in touch with me. In the mean time here's what you should know in my opinion - and keep an eye out for the Apeel label on apples, pears, avocados etc. They are also licensed in other countries to apply this coating to organic fruits!

Whilst the exact formulation of Apeel is proprietary (so they are not going to tell you exactly what is in it), it may also vary depending on the specific application.

This product is being marketed as a way to reduce produce waste as fruit will last longer and therefore won't go off or need to be stored in plastic.

It's also worthwhile noting that David Nelly, a New Zealander, has joined Apeel Sciences - so keep an eye out for this this coating on our fruit! See the below article:

This was on producebluebook.com ...

"David Nelley, previously Vice President of Categories and Global Exports for The Oppenheimer GroupBB #:116242, Vancouver, BC, is Apeel’s new Vice President of Domestic Buyer Relations. Nelley, who grew up on a farm in his native New Zealand, spent the past 30 years dedicated to premium fresh produce across the globe. Now it’s time for a new challenge, Nelley said, in a news release." To read more click here.

The primary ingredients in Apeel typically include:

Lipids: Apeel contains lipids derived from various plant sources. Lipids are essential components that contribute to the barrier properties of the coating, helping to prevent moisture loss and maintain the freshness of the produce.

Glycerolipids: Glycerolipids are a type of lipid that consists of glycerol and fatty acids. They play a crucial role in forming the protective barrier on the surface of the produce, helping to extend its shelf life.

Proteins: Apeel may also contain proteins sourced from plants. Proteins contribute to the structural integrity of the coating and help enhance its adhesion to the surface of the produce.

Cellulose: Cellulose, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls, may be included in the formulation of Apeel. Cellulose fibers can help reinforce the barrier properties of the coating, providing additional protection against moisture loss and microbial degradation.

Other Plant-Derived Compounds: Apeel may contain other plant-derived compounds, such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants, that contribute to its overall functionality and effectiveness in preserving produce

NONE OF THIS SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

Additionally, Apeel is designed to be tasteless and odourless, consumers in America have reported that produce treated with Apeel coating has a slightly different texture or taste compared to untreated produce. However, this may be a very personal view that is up to the individual's taste spectrum.

While Apeel has undergone regulatory approval, there may be ongoing concerns about the long-term effects of consuming produce treated with such coatings. Continued monitoring and research may be necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of these products.

This excerpt is from the article 'Apeel, Insanity From Every Direction' ...

"Apeel is approved in Australia for use on all fruits and vegetables and there are no labelling laws. What is Apeel?

The product Apeel is yet another example of stupidity when it comes to the goodness of organic, regeneratively grown fruits and vegetables.

The media shows it as preserving food and reducing food waste, hunger of communities and saving humanity, but I see it as another chemical being sprayed on food for financial gains.

The marketing for this product describes Apeel as simply another layer of what already exists naturally on fruits and vegetables but when we look deeper, the marketing isn’t exactly telling the whole truth.

Instead of empowering people to have fruit trees in their yards and nature strips, this is yet another attempt to stop the natural ripening, progression, and spoilage of food. There is no long-term safety studies on what it may do to the health of the gut microbiome, the gut integrity and soil ecology." Read more of this article here.

This article is also interesting - 'Don't Eat or Touch Apeel Produce! This Applies To Organics, Too'

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