"No lye added" to applesauce? Bwuh?

Cafe Society
1

I’m looking at a jar of Trader Joe’s applesauce. There’s a big notice on the label that says “CURRENT CROP NO SUGAR, PRESERVATIVES OR LYE ADDED”.

Okay, I can see the point of not informing the customer that you’re not adding preservative or sugar, as those are things that wouldn’t be entirely unexpected. But why on earth would there ever be lye added to applesauce?

2

Lye is used in solution to peel apples in a processing plant. I would guess a different peeling process is used.

3

Well, I’ll be damned…I had no idea. Thanks for the info.