Most of us prefer shiny, colourful fruits and vegetables when grocery shopping—and honestly, who wouldn’t? As consumers, we seek the crisp taste of freshly picked produce while enjoying the convenience of buying it year-round from our local grocery stores. Their clean, glossy appearance catches our attention and often convinces us to add them to our shopping carts. But is everything that glitters really gold? How much do we actually know about the glossy coating we often consume without a second thought? And how much does appearance influence the food choices we make?

What is the purpose of the artificial wax coating? 

Producers apply artificial wax coatings to fruits and vegetables to give them a glossy appearance, improve their texture, and extend their shelf life. These coatings also help retain moisture and slow spoilage and shrinkage. The food industry widely uses this practice to enhance the post-harvest appeal of fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables naturally have a wax layer that helps them retain 80–95 per cent of their moisture. However, washing produce during packaging removes much of this natural protective layer. To prevent moisture loss, producers replace it with an artificial wax coating. In this way, artificial waxing combines food preservation with visual appeal, helping maintain the freshness and marketability of fruits and vegetables.

Materials used in Edible Coatings

Manufacturers usually remove the natural wax from fruits by washing them before applying a biological or petroleum-derived wax coating. They formulate edible coatings using ingredients such as lipids, resins, polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic polymers. These coatings also contain surfactants, antifoaming agents, and emulsifiers.

Manufacturers commonly use shellac as a polishing agent in wood finishes. They produce it from the secretions of the lac insect (Laccifer lacca), a tiny scale insect. In its edible form, manufacturers use shellac as confectioners’ glaze to coat pharmaceutical pills, fruits, coffee beans, chewing gum, and candies.

Natural edible waxes include carnauba wax, candelilla wax, rice bran wax, and beeswax. Manufacturers also use petroleum-based waxes such as paraffin and polyethene wax for certain applications.

Food Safety and Standard Regulations

Food-grade wax coatings generally make fruits safe to consume. Although scientists have not found these approved substances to be harmful to human health, many consumers remain concerned about the coatings applied to fresh produce. Under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, only natural waxes that contain an ester group—such as beeswax, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax—are permitted for use on fruits and vegetables. Laboratories use FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy to assess the safety of wax samples. This technique detects the presence of ester groups in natural waxes, helping authorities verify whether the coating complies with approved food safety standards.

What do health specialists have to say about it? 

 

The process of waxing has caught a lot of attention and has been a topic of debate, especially in the medical community. The permitted waxes are usually natural waxes obtained from insects, for example, beeswax and shellac or from plants, for instance, sugar cane, resins, candelilla and carnauba. However, there are certain types of waxes that can prove to be fatal when consumed. Experts say that a wax coating that contains morpholine can cause liver or kidney dysfunction and tends to form carcinogenic nitroso compounds. The consumption of non-permitted wax can also cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.  

It is important to understand that waxes are indigestible by humans. We cannot break down waxes and absorb their elements. Waxes travel through our digestive system without being broken down. Therefore, if the usage of wax is subject to strict quality control, there is no need for worry when the fruits and vegetables we consume are wax-coated.

What can consumers do about this?

Since the wax coating on fruits and vegetables is formulated to be water–repellent and won’t wash off easily, the question arises: What do consumers who don’t want the wax do about it? While it’s always a good idea to rinse the fruits and vegetables before consumption, peeling them is always a good way to avoid consuming the wax. Besides this, one can always buy unwaxed produce at organic or farmer’s markets. Or, similar to the first woman Eve’s dietary habits, find or even make a garden to pick fresh produce from.