Bill Seeks Mandatory Labeling for Shelf-Life Coatings on Grocery Produce

A new bill in Congress aims to make it easier for Americans to know when the fruits and vegetables they buy have been treated with a plant-based coating designed to extend shelf life.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R–Ind.) introduced H.R. 4737, the Apeel Reveal Act, this week, targeting products like those made by California-based Apeel Sciences. The legislation would require clear labeling on produce treated with post-harvest coatings, such as Apeel’s Edipeel and Organipeel, before being sold in grocery stores.

“We should know what we’re eating – transparency is essential for making healthy choices,” Stutzman wrote on X. “My Apeel Reveal Act gives Americans the clarity they deserve when deciding what to feed themselves and their kids.”

Apeel says its coatings are made from naturally occurring ingredients — including plant-based mono- and diglycerides, baking soda, and citric acid — that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The company says its products comply with FDA Good Manufacturing Practices and are already identified by an Apeel logo or sticker in stores.

The bill defines a “covered product coating” as any substance applied directly to fresh produce to extend its shelf life. If passed, the measure would mandate uniform federal labeling, applying to all qualifying products regardless of brand.

While Apeel stresses that its coatings have undergone rigorous safety testing and have a long history of safe use, the legislation reflects growing calls in Congress for increased transparency in food labeling — giving shoppers more information before they take their groceries home.

Photo credit: Flickr