Written by Jennifer Wolff-Gillispie; Edited by Nicki Steinberger, Ph.D. - A Voice for Choice Advocacy

New fruit and veggie sticker alert—“Apeel”—“protective coating.” What exactly is this product protecting? And if it’s not your health, what price are you willing to pay to foster the longevity of your apples and lemons? This might seem like a stretch, but in a culture that demonizes aging, and celebrates turning back time, compartmentalizing aspects of your body and face, and insisting you look “great,” i.e. “young” forever—it’s no wonder your fruits and veggies must follow suit. When it comes to food, however, you know the old adage—if there are a plethora of ingredients, or too many (even one) you can’t pronounce—be suspicious of what’s inside. Apparently, shopping the periphery of your grocery store isn’t enough. Once you’ve learned the ABCs of Apeel, you can make a well-informed, health-conscious decision to say yea or nay.