Grocery & Produce Brand Policies on Apeel By My Health Forward

Updated July 16, 2025. Shared from https://myhealthforward.com/blogs/my-health-forward-blog/apeel?srsltid=AfmBOor-9S-Sso4HfiY5Ajq0r_q5YlkSmjs-vyBNQPECwcn-Y6PGv6Wo&utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=682

The following list accurately reflects the disclosures and policies of growers and grocery retailers on selling produce treated with Apeel's Edipeel (used on conventional produce). Organipeel, the coating approved for organic produce, has been discontinued. I have confirmed this with the Organic Materials Review Institute. To date, Apeel's coatings are only commercially applied on avocados, limes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, and oranges. The coating is odorless, tasteless, and clear, so there is no way to tell when it is used. The vast majority of grocery store produce is not treated with Apeel. To remove as much Apeel as possible, use water with vinegar or baking soda (not both) and a produce brush or cotton/hemp towel to scrub the produce.

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Natural Grocers: Natural Grocers issued a public corporate statement saying they do not carry any produce or items that have been treated with Apeel's food coatings.

Sprouts Farmers Markets: Sprouts made a decision to not carry any produce that's treated with Apeel.

Costco: Costco partnered with Apeel as far back as 2018 but recently stopped carrying any produce treated with Apeel. Their corporate produce department said they have no plans to ever sell produce treated with Apeel again. The Limoneira lemons they carry are not treated with Apeel.

Publix: Publix will not purchase any produce that's been treated with Apeel's food coatings.

H-E-B: H-E-B does not use any items treated with Apeel in the products they manufacture. They are not actively seeking out or requesting items treated with Apeel. The responsibility ultimately falls on their suppliers to adhere to their requests, so there is not a 100% guarantee.

Central Market: The Texas based gourmet grocery store is owned by H-E-B and shares their exact policy on Apeel.

Whole Foods: Whole Foods says that their global produce purchasing team does not buy items treated with Apeel. However, they could not confirm with regional and local purchasing teams. I previously spoke to three produce departments, three customer service representatives, and three corporate offices. One corporate office said Apeel's l food coatings meet Whole Food's safety standards. I went and looked at the produce and could not find any items treated with Apeel.

Trader Joes: Trader Joes no longer sources any produce treated with Apeel's food coatings. They have not released a public statement or policy. I requested that they do this.

Jimbo's: The San Diego Organic Grocery chain publicly states that they do not carry or accept any produce treated with Apeel.

Azure Standard: Azure Standard (www.azurestandard.com) does not use or carry any products containing Apeel.

Kimberton Whole Foods: The local PA health foods grocery store does not carry any produce that has been treated with Apeel.

ALDI: Aldi does not have a policy on Apeel and no employees are able to speak on it. They source produce from brands (West Pak & Limoneira) that use Apeel, but it is not clear whether the items they carry are treated with Apeel's coatings.

Kroger: Kroger claims that produce items sold under their own label are not treated with Apeel food coatings. However, Kroger is not able to speak about or certify other produce brands that they carry. This policy applies to all of their locations and all of their subsidiaries as well including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Super Markets, Pick’n, Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smith’s Food and Drug. Kroger confirmed that other produce brands they carry are treated with Apeel. Kroger could not verify if their Simple Truth private label is treated with Apeel.

Albertsons: Does not have a policy on carrying produce treated with Apeel. Known to have carried items with Apeel in the past. Same policy applies to its subsidiaries Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market.

Target: Target has carried produce treated with Apeel including avocados, cucumbers, asparagus, apples, and citrus fruit.

Walmart: Walmart does not use Apeel on any of their Walmart brand items. Walmart could not certify other produce brands carried in their stores. Consumers report they carry produce items with Apeel.

Clark's Nutrition: The Los Angeles natural grocery market chain has decided to not carry any products with Apeel on it. They contacted all of their distribution partners to say they do not want any produce or items treated with Apeel.

Love Whole Foods Cafe & Market: The two location Florida market has the following policy regarding Apeel. "Love Whole Foods Cafe & Market is currently working with our produce distributers to keep Apeel coated products out of our stores, and at the very least, expecting more transparency by requiring labeling on produce from companies that are choosing to use Apeel."

Fresh Thyme: Fresh Thyme does not source any produce that has been treated with Apeel and has no plans to change this policy.

Giant: Giant does not utilize Apeel for their private brand products. They try to work with suppliers to ensure product labeling is done according to regulation. They carry produce from other brands treated with Apeel and cannot verify if is labeled on each item.

Bragg: Bragg does not source any apples that have been treated with Organipeel or Edipeel. Bragg makes it clear that none of their apples are treated with other waxes or coatings either.

Cub Foods: No disclosable policy. Known to sell limes treated with Apeel.

Shaws: No disclosable policy. Known to sell produce items with Apeel.

Star Market: No disclosable policy. Known to sell produce items with Apeel.

Fairway Market: Some avocados may have Apeel.

Fred Meyer: Some avocados may have Apeel.

Wegman's: Does not source any produce treated with Apeel.

Bristol Farms: Some citrus fruit may be treated with Apeel.

Market Street: Sell avocados treated with Apeel.

The Fresh Market: Sell avocados and citrus fruit treated with Apeel.

Erewhon: Does not source any produce treated with Apeel.

Market Basket: No exclusionary policy on sourcing produce with Apeel. Users previously reported Apeel on apples.

Stop & Shop: No exclusionary policy on sourcing produce with Apeel.

Hannaford: No disclosable policy on sourcing produce with Apeel.

Meijers: Carries some avocados and citrus with Apeel.

Wish Farms: None of their fruit is treated with Apeel.