# Is Whole Foods really all that Whole? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440 "2008-02-28T00:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/1 "2008-02-28T00:02:30Z")
I do a lot of shopping at [Whole Foods](http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) and [Trader Joes](http://www.traderjoes.com/about_tjs.html) type places. I have been noticing a distinct pattern over the last few months the grapes and apples I’ve been buying all had some sort of sprayed on material. I’ve noticed this before over the years that certain organic and nonorganic fruits and veggies have a sprayed on opaque whitish substance on them. Does anyone know what this is? Is it some sort of shelf-life preservative? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/2 "2008-02-28T00:06:48Z")
It’s just [wax](http://www.bestapples.com/facts/facts_waxing.shtml). Customers like shiney apples, so they shine them. No biggie. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/3 "2008-02-28T00:35:30Z")
Wax huh…Ok. As long as it’s not chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/4 "2008-02-28T00:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Wax huh…Ok. As long as it’s not chemicals. [/QUOTE] Right. Fortunately, it’s made from a congealed quark base. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/5 "2008-02-28T00:59:22Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Right. Fortunately, it’s made from a congealed quark base. [/QUOTE] What’s the flavor of those congealed quarks? I’m hoping for grape. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/6 "2008-02-28T01:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] What’s the flavor of those congealed quarks? I’m hoping for grape. [/QUOTE] It’s more blueberry and Galas. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/7 "2008-02-28T06:42:40Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Wax huh…Ok. As long as it’s not chemicals. [/QUOTE] And just to be safe, you should make sure not to expose the fruit to dihydrogen monoxide. ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/8 "2008-02-28T10:12:26Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Wax huh…Ok. As long as it’s not chemicals. [/QUOTE] Just palmitate, palmitoleate, hydroxypalmitate[1] and oleate esters of long-chain (30-32 carbons) aliphatic alcohols, with the ratio of triacontanylpalmitate CH3(CH2)29O-CO-(CH2)14CH3 to cerotic acid[2] CH3(CH2)24COOH 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/9 "2008-02-28T11:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] It’s just [wax](http://www.bestapples.com/facts/facts_waxing.shtml). Customers like shiney apples, so they shine them. No biggie. [/QUOTE] Food wax also prevents foods and vegetables from dehydrating and shriveling up. It can extend shelf life without actually altering the the fruit/vegetable itself. I think it also provides somewhat of a shield against things like mold and fungus. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/10 "2008-02-28T14:36:41Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] What’s the flavor of those congealed quarks? I’m hoping for grape. [/QUOTE] [Sorry- it’s a mix of up and down flavors.](http://www.mcm.edu/~christej/dictionary/dictQ.html) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/11 "2008-02-28T15:08:00Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Right. Fortunately, it’s made from a congealed quark base. [/QUOTE] But it’s _organic_ congealed quart base, right? And what kind of quarks, because I have an allergy to strange quarks. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/12 "2008-02-28T15:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=Green Bean] And just to be safe, you should make sure not to expose the fruit to dihydrogen monoxide. [/QUOTE] And if, by chance, it does, be sure to give it a thorough rinsing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/13 "2008-02-28T16:28:15Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Wax huh…Ok. As long as it’s not chemicals. [/QUOTE] And you’ll be happy to know that much food-grade wax used in the US is animal-derived. The most common types are carnauba wax (from palm trees) and a shellac-based wax (harvested from secretions of the lac beetle). Produce packers switch back and forth, so you can’t be sure whether that apple is covered in palm wax or in beetle leavings. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but when I am put into a position to explain that to certain of my vegan customers, it doesn’t make me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/14 "2008-02-28T16:28:43Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] [Sorry- it’s a mix of up and down flavors.](http://www.mcm.edu/~christej/dictionary/dictQ.html) [/QUOTE] Charming! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/15 "2008-02-28T16:39:32Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] But it’s _organic_ congealed quart base, right? And what kind of quarks, because I have an allergy to strange quarks. Stranger [/QUOTE] When Whole Foods changes its name to Unified Field Foods, it’ll switch over to a quark base built up from free [preons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preon) to avoid any quantum reactions. (Free preons! Get’em while they’re hot! Free preons! Only one thin dime!) ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-whole-foods-really-all-that-whole/439440/16 "2008-02-28T18:36:39Z")
Never mind. Read for comprehension, not speed!