Extreme Caution Urged When Removing Stickers From Fruit

Why Does Fruit Have Stickers?

The stickers are officially called price lookup stickers. The code on them allows the customer or cashier to enter it and get charged the right price for the fruit.

Incidentally, if the number starts with a three or four, the fruit is grown conventionally, but if it begins with a nine, it is grown organically.

Even though eating the sticker will not harm a person, it does not taste very good and has no nutritional value.

So many throw it in the trash. The stickers are not biodegradable, so people should remove them before placing peelings in the compost bin.

A spokesperson for the fruit industry says that many fruit companies are trying to develop a sticker that will biodegrade, but they have yet to find a glue that is strong enough to stick to the fruit and will degrade.

What Is the Best Method of Removing Stickers From Fruit?

There are at least two methods for removing stickers from fruit. The first method is to wash the fruit in soapy water.

In addition to removing the sticker, this removes most of the chemicals that producers put on the fruit to keep it looking good at the store and prevent mold and other problems during transport.

If the sticker does not want to turn loose, let the fruit soak for a few minutes.

Chemical Residues

Various chemicals may be employed throughout the production and distribution process to enhance appearance, extend shelf life, and control pests in fruit.

Pre-harvest, pesticides and herbicides are commonly utilized to protect crops from insects, weeds, and diseases. These chemicals help ensure high yields and minimize crop losses due to pests or environmental stressors.

Post-harvest, fruits may undergo treatments such as waxing or coating to maintain moisture and freshness during storage and transportation.

Additionally, antimicrobial agents may be applied to reduce microbial contamination and inhibit the growth of spoilage organisms, prolonging the fruit's marketability.

Concerns have been raised about the potential health impacts of chemical residues on fruit. They may persist on the fruit's surface or penetrate its tissues, posing risks to people eating it. Therefore, it is always a good idea to wash fruit before consuming it. The sticker will often come off as the fruit is being washed.

People can also make a mixture of two parts baking soda and one part coconut oil and rub it on the sticker. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes, and it should come right off.

Why People Should Not Peel Stickers off Fruit?

One thing that people should refrain from doing is trying to peel the sticker off the fruit. When people peel the sticker off the fruit, they risk bruising it.

Some fruit will brown much faster once bruised. When the fruit's skin is damaged, enzymes are released, catalyzing reactions that turn the fruit's flesh brown. This browning affects the fruit's appearance and indicates a loss of quality and freshness.

Certain fruits, like apples and bananas, are prone to rapid browning once bruised.

Often, the fruit will look great on the outside. Yet, it will begin deteriorating on the inside because of bruising.

Furthermore, peeling off the sticker can cause microscopic holes in the fruit. These holes allow bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to get inside the fruit, where they can multiply quickly.

Therefore, when someone bites into the fruit, they may find that the inside contains mold. When the fruit is in a bowl, it may also emit gases, so no one wants to eat it.

The holes can also cause the fruit's cells to break down, reducing its nutritional value. It is also possible that when the cells break down, they can set up conditions for foodborne illnesses to develop in the fruit.

One of the most common illnesses is salmonella. In that case, a person may develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Furthermore, when cells break down, it can change the fruit's colors. Then, the fruit does not look as attractive, so no one wants to eat it. Therefore, people eventually have to throw the fruit away.

Especially in fruit that should taste sweet, microscopic holes can cause the fruit to produce organic acids, alcohols and volatile compounds. This can cause the fruit to taste bitter and not smell good.

Then, people will not only probably not eat it, but they may also be more reluctant to choose that fruit the next time it is presented.

Should You Remove Stickers From Your Fruit?

While eating the sticker on fruit is perfectly safe, it will not add nutritional value to a person's diet and may stop some people from being willing to eat the fruit.

Yet, pulling the sticker off the fruit is unsafe as it can change the fruit's characteristics and even lead to food poisoning.

Therefore, people should remove the sticker by washing the fruit. Taking this simple step also removes any harmful chemicals that have been put on the fruit. If that does not work, then rub a paste of baking soda and coconut oil on the sticker to remove it.

People can take these easy steps before placing fruit in a bowl so it is ready to grab and eat when in a hurry. Enjoy fresh fruit from the store regularly as it is an important part of a healthy diet.

Just make sure that you remove the sticker in a safe manner. Otherwise, consider buying your fruit at a farmers market as there is usually not a sticker to contend with on their fresh fruit.