Apple often uses a variety of chemicals
Apples on the market are often contaminated with a variety of chemicals, including:
1. Pesticides/fungicides: These include difenoconazole, mancozeb, propineb, thiabendazole, and phosmet, primarily for pest and disease control. These pesticides can include up to four or more.
2. Preservatives/waxing: Pesticides such as diphenylamine are sometimes used to wax the surface of fruit for preservation, or mixed with other preservatives.
3. Flower thinning/enlargement agents (疏花/膨大劑): In some areas, gibberellins, auxin hormones (such as indoleacetic acid), and lime sulfur are also sprayed to promote fruit shape and thin flowers and fruits.
4. Cytokinins (細胞分裂素) (a group of natural plant growth regulators that promote cell division and leaf expansion and inhibit leaf aging) are used to promote fruit growth in apples and pistachios.
5. Farmers sometimes use fruit thinning agents (疏果劑) to reduce the number of young fruits, thereby increasing fruit size and the number of flowers, such as the use of carbaryl in apples.
Table 1: Classes of pesticides and their target pests or usage (Not limited to, or inclusive of, all preservation methods used for apples)
Like carbaryl, it is the third most commonly used insecticide in home gardens, commercial agriculture, forestry, and rangeland protection in the United States. Carbaryl (1-naphthylmethylcarbamate) is a carbamate compound primarily used as an insecticide. It is a white crystalline solid formerly sold under the brand name Sevin, a trademark of Bayer AG. The Sevin trademark was later acquired by GardenTech, which has since removed carbaryl from most Sevin formulations. Union Carbide discovered carbaryl and introduced it commercially in 1958. Bayer acquired Aventis CropScience, which included Union Carbide's pesticide business, in 2002. As a veterinary drug, it is known as Carbaryl (INN).
The development of carbamate insecticides has been hailed as a major breakthrough in pesticides. Carbamate insecticides are not as persistent as chlorinated pesticides. Although toxic to insects, carbaryl is rapidly detoxified and eliminated from the bodies of vertebrates. It neither concentrates in fat nor is secreted into milk, making it more suitable for use on food crops, at least in the United States. Carbaryl kills target insects (such as malaria-carrying mosquitoes), as well as beneficial insects (such as bees), and crustaceans.
Carbaryl can be produced using methyl isocyanate (MIC) as an intermediate. A leak of MIC used in the production of carbaryl led to the Bhopal disaster in India, the world's deadliest industrial accident.
According to a survey, as many as 98% of apple samples tested contained pesticide residues, with over 90% containing two or more types. However, most regions have established safe residue limits, so apples are generally safe to eat as long as they meet these limits. It's best to rinse, soak, or peel the apples repeatedly before eating to significantly reduce residues.
3 Benefits of Eating Apple Peels
Organic apples do not use fruit wax, but they are washed and polished with apples to make them feel shiny through the natural fruit wax of the apples.
Italian organic apple with certificate
Australian Organic Green Apple in the original box
Overall, the natural wax on apple peels can be eaten directly without removing it. Furthermore, apple peels are rich in phytochemicals, including polyphenols, myricetin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin, which offer numerous health benefits.
Benefit 1: Polyphenols and chlorogenic acid have antioxidant properties, helping to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Benefit 2: Myricetin can lower blood glucose levels, helping stabilize blood sugar levels.
Benefit 3: Quercetin can inhibit mast cells, protect the bronchi, and improve asthma.
Would you choose to peel your apples or consider buying organic ones? 🍏
