Thanks for informing me!
I haven’t heard about ‘Apeel’ before this note.
It’s worth noting that the woke ChatGPT 5 (Microsoft) says ‘Apeel’ is Safe, lol.
Quote ChatGPT:
“Here’s a clear breakdown:
⸻
What is Apeel?
Apeel (from Apeel Sciences) is a plant-based, edible coating applied to fruits and vegetables to extend freshness. It mimics the natural cuticle (outer layer) of produce to slow moisture loss and oxidation—helping items like avocados, apples, citrus, mangoes, and cucumbers stay fresh significantly longer, often doubling shelf life.   
Two product lines exist:
• Edipeel: for conventional produce
• Organipeel: for organic produce, incorporating citric acid, baking soda, and monoglycerides/diglycerides  
The coating uses very small, edible amounts and can be removed with water and gentle scrubbing—it’s also tasteless.  
⸻
Any Actual Connection to Bill Gates?
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided early grant funding to the company—about $100K in 2012 and $985K in 2015—to support R&D for reducing food waste in developing countries.   
• Bill Gates himself is not a shareholder, employee, or involved in operations. That’s the entirety of the connection.   
⸻
Addressing the Misinformation
• Some viral claims link Apeel to a “toxic coating,” citing a safety data sheet with warnings like “causes serious eye damage.” This file actually belongs to a completely different cleaning product also named “Apeel,” produced by a UK company. That product is not related to Apeel Sciences.  
• Multiple fact-checks, including from AP and PolitiFact, debunk these claims. The food coating’s ingredients (monoglycerides and diglycerides) are recognized as safe by the FDA.    
• Critics, like Cornucopia, have raised regulatory concerns, particularly about organic certification and how ingredients are processed. For instance, Organipeel is registered as a fungicide (citric acid is the “active ingredient,” while other components like monoglycerides are heavily processed and may not meet consumer expectations for “natural”). 
⸻
Summary Table
- Claim/Concern
* Reality
- Invisible toxic coating
* Edible, food-grade ingredients; safe, FDA-GRAS
- Bill Gates’ involvement
* Only two small early grants; no ownership or control
- Organic certification banned in Australia
* Not broadly banned; regulatory oversight continues
- No mandatory labeling or safety studies
* Ingredients are GRAS and publicly documented; coating washable and safe
⸻
TL;DR
• Apeel is a safe, edible, plant-based coating designed to reduce produce spoilage and food waste.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided minimal early funding; Bill Gates has no current role.
• Confusion stems from a similarly named cleaning product—not the same as Apeel Sciences’ coating.
• The coating is washable, tasteless, and made from well-known food ingredients.
• Labels and organic rules vary, but there’s no known blanket ban in Australia; the subject remains under regulatory discussion.  
⸻”
