Waxing apples Waxing apples is nothing new. Nutritionists say that apple peel is more nutritious than apple meat and should be eaten more, but can we eat more waxed apple peel? In fact, the state allows the surface of fruits to be waxed for preservation. Apple peel itself contains wax, which is a lipid component that can prevent the invasion of external microorganisms. The main components of edible wax in processing are natural shellac and carnauba wax, both of which are edible and harmless to the body. However, in order to save costs, many unscrupulous merchants use industrial wax instead of edible wax. Industrial wax contains mercury and lead, which may bring harm to human body. How to identify: Experts say that there are three kinds of wax on the peel: the fruit wax that comes with apples; Fruit farmers eat wax; Industrial wax on illegal traders. The first two are edible. It is very simple to remove this layer of edible wax. Just rinse it with hot water or salt water. When choosing waxed fruit, you can wipe the surface of the fruit with your hands or napkins. If you can rub a layer of reddish, it is probably industrial wax. The staff of the quality inspection department said that edible wax and industrial wax are not easy to distinguish with the naked eye, and fruits should be washed with salt water before eating, or simply peeled before eating.