Indeed everything has a price!
If I want fresh apples and pears and I don't have unrestricted access to a nearby Orchard (An impossibility in Trinidad), then my only resort is to buy waxed imported fruits from the fruit vendor!!!!
So doing a bit of research on whether waxed fruits are safe to eat, I discovered the following:
- Some fruits naturally produce their own wax such as Pears, Plums and Apples.
- This naturally occurring wax is digestible and non toxic (of course)
- The naturally occurring wax helps the fruits retain its moisture, firmness and retards spoiling after it is picked
So why then, are producers adding more Wax?
You guessed Correctly !!!!! - So fruits can have a longer shelf life
Is this added wax which is called "Food Grade" wax safe for humans????
Personally, I think NOT!!!
My quick and dirty research into what the wax is made up revealed two common types of wax that are used:
- Shellac - wax made from female Lac Bug (eh?)
- Carnauba - wax made from the Carnauba palm
Most medical sites state that the wax should NOT be digested but scraped off or washed off with vinegar. The Food and Drug Administration in the US says its "Food Grade" and safe....Who do you believe????
Since we are never really sure if "Food Grade" is "Healthy" just like "Food Grade Coloring" in foods, I'll stick to peeling off the skin or scrubbing that WAX off my fruit!!!
OH!!!! Even Better.....Trinidadians have access to many seasonal local fruit which (Thankfully....Hopefully???) are not waxed such as Guavas, Sapodilla and Mangoes.....Fruitylicious!!!!
