We all know the famous saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but did you know the very same apple is probably up to a year old - at least it is if you purchased it from a supermarket. That's right, those 'fresh' apples supermarkets frequently advertise are not so fresh, with apples being between nine and 12 months old when we buy them.
Fresh fruit does not stay fresh for very long, so to combat this retailers use several techniques. Apples are often harvested in large quantities and preserved - that way suppliers can provide supermarkets with year-round availability.
The apples are usually preserved using refrigeration and a chemical called 1-methylcyclopropene. This allows for the apples to be picked and stored away for months before they reach the shelves. Wax can also be used to enhance the apple's appearance and slow down deterioration.
With most fruit being seasonal, it makes sense that supermarkets have found ways of providing customers with fruit all year round. Asda has confirmed some varieties of apples marketed as 'fresh' were picked between six and 12 months ago, while Tesco and Sainsbury's have been using the practice for over a decade.
The good news is there is no need to worry. The apples are safe to consume and experts say that the loss in nutritional value is insignificant.
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