May 22, 2024
A health researcher made a list of stores and growers and their policies around using Apeel’s Edipeel (used on conventional produce) and Organipeel (used on organic produce) food coatings. He wrote that as of May 12, 2024, Apeel’s coatings have only been commercially applied on apples, cucumbers, avocados, asparagus, limes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges. The coating is odorless, tasteless, and clear, so there is no way to tell when it is used. The vast majority of grocery store produce is not treated with Apeel. To remove as much Apeel as possible, use vinegar or baking soda (not both) and a produce brush or cotton/hemp towel to scrub the produce.
The following list accurately reflects the disclosures and policies of growers and grocery retailers on selling produce treated with Apeel’s Edipeel (used on conventional produce) and Organipeel (used on organic produce) food coatings. To date, Apeel’s coatings have only been commercially applied on apples, cucumbers, avocados, asparagus, limes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges. The coating is odorless, tasteless, and clear, so there is no way to tell when it is used. The vast majority of grocery store produce is not treated with Apeel. To remove as much Apeel as possible, use vinegar or baking soda (not both) and a produce brush or cotton/hemp towel to scrub the produce.
Natural Grocers: Natural Grocers issued a public corporate statement saying they do not 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 any produce that’s treated with Apeel. They annnounced this internally to employees, but have not made a public statement or policy yet.
Costco: Costco partnered with Apeel as far back as 2018 but recently stopped carrying any produce treated with Apeel. Their corporate produce department said they have no plans to ever sell produce treated with Apeel again. The Limoneira lemons they carry are not treated with Apeel.
Publix: Publix will not purchase any produce that’s been treated with Apeel’s food coatings.
H-E-B: H-E-B 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. The responsibility ultimately falls on their suppliers to adhere to their requests, so there is not a 100% guarantee.
Central Market: The Texas based gourmet grocery store is owned by H-E-B and shares their exact policy on Apeel.
Whole Foods: Whole Foods would not give a clear or straightforward answer on if they source produce treated with Apeel. I spoke to three produce departments, three customer service representatives, and three corporate offices. One corporate office said Apeel’s Edipeel and Organipeel food coatings meet Whole Food’s safety standards. I went and looked at the produce and could not find any items treated with Apeel.
Trader Joes: Trader Joes no longer sources any produce treated with Apeel’s food coatings. They have not released a public statement or policy. I requested that they do this.
Jimbo’s: The San Diego Organic Grocery chain publicly states that they do not carry or accept any produce treated with Apeel.
Azure Standard: Azure Standard (www.azurestandard.com) does not use or carry any products containing Apeel.
Kimberton Whole Foods: The local PA health foods grocery store does not carry any produce that has been 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. However, 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 as well including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Super Markets, Pick’n, Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smith’s Food and Drug. 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.
Albertsons: Known to carry some produce items with Apeel.
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 items. Walmart could not certify other produce brands carried in their stores. Consumers report they carry produce items with Apeel.
Drisco Strawberries out of California whether organic or not taste like a chemical shit storm. Had some cherries out of Co-op store in Alberta last year. We took them back they tasted like chemical shit storms. They were gross. Again I will state, if you have a yard grow your own food.