Why do some people say that apple peels are carcinogenic? Is there any scientific basis for this claim? Is peeling the apple a guarantee of safety? To answer these questions, we first need to understand a little about the pest control measures in fruit cultivation and production.
To effectively control pests and diseases, the use of various pesticides is still necessary in agricultural production worldwide. Many pesticides are not water-soluble but have a high affinity for wax. The outermost layer of an apple's surface is a wax layer, and when pesticides adsorb into this wax, they can effectively protect the fruit from pests and diseases. Because fat-soluble pesticides are long-lasting and not easily washed away by rain, many farmers prefer to use them. At the same time, these types of pesticides generally do not penetrate the fruit's interior, thereby reducing the total amount of residue. Therefore, although apple peels contain special nutrients, they may indeed contain more pesticides than the flesh.
It should be said that as long as pesticides are used in strict accordance with the regulations of relevant national departments, even if there are trace pesticide residues, they will not harm human health. However, in China's agricultural production, there are occasional instances of excessive use of pesticides exceeding standards or the use of counterfeit pesticides. Some of these misused, counterfeit pesticides may be carcinogenic.
Since fat-soluble pesticides adsorb into the wax layer, it is difficult to completely remove them even with detergent. Therefore, peeling the apple is a safer choice. Most fat-soluble pesticides have a strong chemical odor, which can be detected by careful smelling. Among fruits that can be eaten with their peels, apples and pears are consumed in large quantities by people in their daily lives. Apples and pears are easy to peel, so if you can smell a chemical odor, you should certainly peel them before eating.