Michelle Pfeiffer, known for her private lifestyle and renowned acting career, shocked her followers with a rare and controversial comment. In an uncharacteristic move, the actress claimed Bill Gates could play a role in contaminating the American food supply. 

This came as a surprise to many on social media as Pfeiffer is usually reserved, keeping a low profile in the public eye. She, however, later apologised to Bill Gates and Apeel for spreading “inaccurate and outdated information’. Her apology comes after Apeel Sciences reached out to her to clarify the facts. 

The Instagram Post That Sparked Controversy

In an Instagram story, Pfeiffer expressed anxiety over a product called Apeel. Apeel is an organic food-coating technology aimed to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Pfeiffer stated in her story, “Apeel (an edible, plant-based coating designed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables) was just approved and now ‘organic’ produce is coated in something we cannot see or wash off. Very concerning”. 

Pfeiffer also accused Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, of conjuring up a plan to contaminate America’s food supply. More people caught wind of the story due to Gates’ well-known activity in philanthropy and investments in sustainable agriculture. Pfeiffer initially claimed Gates was responsible for new threats to food safety, suggesting he had direct control or ownership of Apeel. However, industry records confirm a more distant link: “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded two research grants to Apeel Sciences and Gates has no role or ownership in Apeel” ,Pfeiffer said in her apology post.

Apeel is a technology developed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. The food coating uses plant lipids to help retain moisture and reduce oxidation, preventing food and produce from spoiling quickly. According to Jenny Du, co-founder of Apeel, “Apeel uses plant lipids or plant oils naturally found in fruits and vegetables and creates a coating applied to the surface… to retain moisture and reduce oxidation. Our product is also intended to be edible”. The technology’s ingredients, purified monoglycerides and diglycerides, are common in everyday food products, such as infant formula. The company sees Apeel as part of a solution to food waste, especially in markets where refrigeration is less available.