All citrus (except organic grown) are treated to maintain freshness in transit with one or more of the following chemicals, and remain on the rind under the wax coating when you purchase the fruit: Imazalil, Sodium O’Phenylphenate, Thiabendazole, then coated with food-grade vegetable-, beeswax-x and/or lac-resin-based wax or resin.

Fruits with thick rinds, need to be washed before cutting. Just the action of the knife cutting through the fruit can move dirt, bacteria, and chemical coatings from the outside directly into the fruit.

Want to know what they are?

•Imazalil – fungicide
•Thiabendazole – fungicide and parasiticide
•Sodium O’Phenylphenate (aka Orthophenylphenate) – disinfectant

Millet

When I buy citrus (which is rarely, since I have so much here), I wash my citrus with a scrub sponge, and liquid dishwashing detergent to scrub off the waxy coating and the break the ionic bond and help wash away whatever nasty stuff is on the fruit. This is good to know, Millet, thanks for sharing. This is why we grow our own for sure