Dubai: Rumours spread on social networks about not consuming apples because of the wax coating on the fruit that can be harmful to people’s health were strongly denied by the Food Control Section at Dubai Municipality.
The department confirmed that all food products imported to the city are subjected to laboratory tests and are carefully inspected before being made available in the market for sale.
Khalid Mohammad Sharif Al Awadhi, executive director at the Food Control Section at Dubai Municipality, warned people against listening to and retweeting such rumours, which are being spread by unknown sources that have no knowledge. He assured the public that the municipality takes all measures to ensure the safety of the public.
“Standards of foodstuff can never be tampered with in any way because countries that import these products and various other commodities have to abide by the global trade agreements, which are governed by strict terms and conditions. Anyone who attempts to tamper with them can be sentenced and can suffer huge losses,” he said.
He said that these rumours, which are usually spread by competing companies to scare people and stop them from consuming certain products, are based on no scientific evidence, thus, it is not true that they affect consumers’ health.
Al Awadhi explained that the top coat on apples is a natural one, which protects the apple from shrivel; ing and being attacked by insects for a long period of time.
“Before the apples are packaged, they are washed and cleaned to clear the dust and any residue from pesticides. When this happens, the natural wax coat that protects the apples disappears and this is when another natural, safe wax coat, which has been globally approved and naturally extracted, is applied.”
He said the wax coat is not harmful to health and there are certain ways to remove it for those who want to. “They can wash it using warm water and brush it to get rid of the wax coat. They can wash it using vinegar or wash it with water containing one teaspoon of lemon juice and another teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. I do not recommend washing it with the fruit and vegetable wash.”
Al Awadhi also denied rumours about the availability of carcinogenic food substances in the country, noting that the Food Control Department takes inspections very seriously and that there are specific international systems in place issuing specific legislations and procedures pertaining to foods, which the municipality follows.
