Dalian Market Now Sells Waxed Oranges: Eating Waxed Fruit Requires Peeling (Photo)
In the past, some vendors to quickly sell lower-quality oranges for a better price, would "beautify" them through methods like dyeing, injecting saccharin, or soaking in sugar water. Fearing dyed oranges, many residents gave up their preferences. Currently, it's the peak season for oranges. In an undercover visit, reporters found that while dyed oranges are gone, waxed oranges have appeared.
Left: Waxed orange
Market Survey: Some Oranges Are Waxed
Yesterday morning, at a morning market near Nanshidao Street in Xigang District, reporters learned that the oranges on the market mainly come from Ganzhou, Jiangxi, and Hunan. In last year's market investigation, most of the dyed navel oranges were found to be from Ganzhou.
In front of a fruit stall, reporters saw two boxes of oranges placed together. There was no difference in their shape, but a big difference in color. The oranges in one box were a deep orange-red and particularly shiny, while the oranges in the other box were a yellowish-orange. The reporter asked the stall owner, "Why is there such a big color difference between the two boxes of oranges?" The female stall owner said, "There's no difference, they're all equally sweet. The darker-colored ones were just opened this morning."
Regarding the reporter's suspicion, another fruit stall owner was blunt: "The darker-colored ones are all waxed; anyone with eyes can tell at a glance."
The reporter asked, "Why wax them?"
The stall owner said: "Waxed oranges look better! The oranges I sell come from Hunan, and they are absolutely tampered with."
Subsequently, the reporter went to Shuangxing Fruit Wholesale Market. During the visit, reporters found that the oranges in the market varied in color. When they rubbed the orange peels vigorously, no color came off. So, what was the reason for the uneven color? Reporters asked the stall owners if they were dyed. The stall owners' response was, "Absolutely not dyed, that's how they were when we got them." In their conversations, stall owners also candidly told reporters that this year, no colorants are indeed being added to oranges, but some are waxed for longer shelf life.
How to Tell if an Orange Is Dyed
In a nutshell: "A normal orange is red with a hint of yellow; if it's all red, it must be dyed." Additionally, here are a few methods:
1 Dyed oranges appear very red on the surface. Upon closer inspection, you can find red spots on the表皮皮孔 (epidermal pores), and some orange surfaces may even have red residue.
2 Wipe the orange's surface with a wet tissue. If the tissue turns red, the orange may have been dyed. For an undyed orange, the tissue will only show a faint yellow after wiping.
3 For severely dyed oranges, the orange calyx will also turn red; for undyed oranges, the calyx is a mix of white and green.
Expert Opinion
Theoretically, using edible wax is safe
Zhong Laifu, a professor of food and nutrition at the School of Public Health for Preventive Medicine at Dalian Medical University, stated that according to the "Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Additives," it is permissible to wax the surface of fresh fruits, but it must be done using specified additives in appropriate amounts as needed for production. This additive is edible wax, whose components are animal or plant gelatin and are non-toxic.
Edible wax is an extract of natural animal and plant waxes, which fruits also form naturally. Its safety has been assessed, so theoretically, using edible wax on the surface of fresh fruit is safe.
Zhong Laifu said that currently, there are no specific national standards in China to clearly regulate the use of fruit wax. It is understood that waxing fruit is an internationally permitted preservation method, with mature processes and regulations for it.
What is the effect of waxing oranges? "The wax forms a protective layer on the orange's surface, which not only protects the fruit's skin and enhances its luster but also prevents moisture evaporation, preserving the fruit's freshness and aroma. Additionally, after waxing, it's harder for bacteria to invade," Zhong Laifu told reporters. Waxing fruit not only makes it look better but also extends its shelf life, a method commonly used for citrus, apples, and other fruits.
Expert Advice
Waxed fruit is best peeled before eating
So, will eating the wax on fruit have an effect on the human body? "If it's a wax that meets national standards, that's fine. The worry is that some illegal operators use inferior or industrial wax. If it's industrial wax, it will definitely have an impact on the human body," Zhong Laifu said with concern. "Waxed fruit generally looks very fresh and bright. If pigment is added to the wax, some of it will leave color on a tissue when wiped. However, if no pigment is added, both edible and industrial wax are colorless and odorless, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish with the naked eye. Only professional testing can determine its specific components."
Zhong Laifu suggests that even for edible wax, residents should not eat fruit straight from the hand, as ordinary wax is not water-soluble and cannot be washed off with normal cleaning methods. There may also be pesticide residues on the fruit's surface. To be on the safe side, consumers are advised to peel waxed fruit before eating.