New Proposed Law on Produce Coatings
A new proposed law aims to shed light on the coatings applied to fruits and vegetables before they hit grocery store shelves in the U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman from Indiana has introduced the HR 4737, termed the Apeel Reveal Act, which primarily focuses on the treatment of produce with these coatings.
The bill seeks to enhance transparency by mandating that companies label products containing these coatings. Stutzman shared on X that, “We need to know what we’re eating. Transparency is essential for making healthy choices.” He further emphasized that the act aims to provide Americans with clear information about what they serve their families.
Apeel Sciences, a leading company in this field, echoed Stutzman’s sentiments, stating, “All consumers deserve to know where they can find safer, higher-quality fresh produce at grocery stores.” They added that their plant-based coatings help keep produce fresh longer, reduce food waste, and lower costs for households.
There is a desire for “disclosure of specific product coatings used for fruits and vegetables and other purposes.”
Apeel clarified that its coatings consist of common, safe ingredients, specifically a plant-based fat called mono and diglycerides, along with baking soda and citric acid, all of which have a long history of safe use in food.
The company mentioned it is the only post-harvest food coating brand that most consumers recognize. All materials utilized must comply with regulations deemed “generally recognized as safe” (GRA) by the FDA. This ensures that the products are manufactured under optimal conditions.
Apeel also outlined how its coatings contribute to significant sustainability benefits, claiming they help reduce 166 million agricultural products from going to waste, conserve 1.8 billion gallons of water, and avoid the release of more than 64 million pounds of greenhouse gases.
The bill’s primary aim is to amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to require explicit labeling of coatings on produce, thus enhancing consumer awareness. It specifies that “covered product coating” indicates a coating applied to extend the shelf life of fruits or vegetables, including formulations from Apeel Sciences.
