Michelle Pfeiffer has bravely called out Bill Gates for his ties to Apeel, warning that the FDA-approved coating could contaminate organic fruits and vegetables without consumers’ knowledge.

Why it matters: With trust in food safety already fragile, Pfeiffer’s alert underscores the need for transparency in how billionaires like Gates shape our agriculture, potentially exposing families to untested additives in everyday groceries.

Driving the news: The low-profile actress shared her concerns on Instagram Thursday, reposting a video about Apeel’s recent USDA organic approval and labeling it “very concerning” since the invisible coating allegedly can’t be washed off, as detailed in Daily Mail.

• Apeel, initially funded by a $100,000 Gates Foundation grant in 2012, uses plant-based lipids to extend produce shelf life, but critics question its safety and removability.
• Candace Owens backed Pfeiffer on X, stating Gates’ involvement signals potential poisoning of organic food and urging RFK Jr. to intervene, see her post.
• Apeel denies current Gates ties and insists the coating, compliant with FDA standards for eight years, is edible and washable by rinsing.

Catch up quick: Apeel was founded to reduce food waste in developing countries, receiving early Gates support, but now faces backlash over its monoglyceride-based formula, also used in infant products. Pfeiffer, known for her quiet life, made this rare statement while promoting a new AppleTV+ series with Elle Fanning.

The intrigue: Pfeiffer’s unexpected stance aligns with growing calls from health advocates to scrutinize corporate-backed innovations that could alter natural foods without clear labeling.

Between the lines: Gates’ history of funding agricultural tech raises valid questions about undue influence on organic standards, prioritizing profits over consumer health and choice.

What they’re saying:

• “Apeel was just approved and now ‘organic’ produce is coated in something we cannot see or wash off. Very concerning,” Michelle Pfeiffer posted on Instagram, highlighting risks to food purity.
• “Bill Gates given FDA approval to coat ‘organic’ food is a sure sign we are about to be poisoned,” Candace Owens wrote on X, amplifying the call for action.

The bottom line: Pfeiffer’s warning, supported by figures like Owens, demands immediate FDA review of Apeel to protect organic integrity—consumers deserve full transparency before trusting their plates.