Professional FAQs: Is it safe to eat the skin of Apple?
Professional FAQs: Is it safe to eat the skin of Apple?
Expert opinion from Faith Seke
PhD, Agronomy and Crop Science (ongoing), Master’s degree, Food Science and Technology · 1 years of experience · South Africa
Peels are high in vitamins and minerals. The number of nutrients in each fruit or vegetable varies depending on the variety. In fact, compared to a peeled apple, a raw apple with skin has up to 332 percent more vitamin K, 142 percent more vitamin A, 115 percent more vitamin C, 20% more calcium, and up to 19 percent more potassium.
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Expert opinion from Barbara Cronje
Master’s degree, Public Health Nutrition · 3 years of experience · South Africa
The skin of an apple is rich in vitamins, minerals and polyphenols ( antioxidants ) important for preventing oxidative damage to cells and nutrient deficiencies. It also contains fibre that is important for your gut health. It is recommended to eat fruit in its most natural form – as unprocessed as possible. It is important to note that the skin of an apple could be a choking hazard for very young children or individuals with certain health problems like dysphagia ( swallowing difficulties).
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Expert opinion from Michael Colangelo
Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition · 15 years of experience · USA
For most people it is both safe and advisable to eat the skin of an apple. The skin adds additional fiber, vitamins, potassium, and other minerals. Individuals with a birch pollen allergy may react to fresh apple with or without the skin. Some people believe that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals live only on the hard skin of an apple and that washing will remove them. However, these chemicals migrate into the apple and the only way to significantly reduce intake of these chemicals is to purchase organically grown, or grow your own apples. Those concerned with ingesting pesticides and herbicides should consider consuming organically grown apples as much as possible. Apples tend to be high in pesticide residues according to the Environmental Working Group(EWG). EWG provides an annual guide to pesticides in produce that is based on test results by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration of more than 46,000 samples of produce that has been thoroughly washed.
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