Renowned actress Michelle Pfeiffer recently issued a public apology for inadvertently disseminating a fringe theory concerning Bill Gates and a food product, underscoring the swift spread of misinformation in the digital age. Her actions highlight the critical need for accuracy in public discourse, especially when addressing sensitive topics like food safety and corporate affiliations.
The controversy began when Pfeiffer shared a social media post on July 10, suggesting that “organic produce is no longer safe” due to the approval of “Bill Gates’ Apeel” for USDA-certified organic products. Her initial post expressed “very concerning” sentiments, claiming that this invisible coating on organic produce could not be washed off, raising significant alarms among her followers regarding food safety standards.
To further support her claims, Pfeiffer subsequently shared an article from an organic food blog that listed various grocery stores reportedly not selling produce coated with Apeel. These posts quickly gained traction, contributing to a broader narrative of distrust around the company and its products, fueled by celebrity endorsement.
Despite Pfeiffer’s later assertion that she did not intend to spread misinformation, her shared content resonated with a larger, ongoing campaign against Apeel, often spearheaded by influencers promoting similar conspiracy theories. A central false claim within this movement was that Bill Gates was the founder of Apeel, a notion the company has consistently refuted.
Apeel maintains that Bill Gates’ involvement is limited to two grants provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012 and 2015, with no ownership or operational role beyond this. Representatives for the California-based company have repeatedly clarified that the Microsoft founder has no “involvement or ownership” in their operations.
The product in question, OrganiPeel, is described by Apeel as a plant-based coating comprising citric acid, baking soda, and mono- and diglycerides derived from “non-GMO, responsibly-sourced plant oils.” Contrary to Pfeiffer’s initial concern, the transparent coating is fully edible and, furthermore, can be removed simply by rinsing and gently scrubbing fresh produce, as advised by food safety guidelines.
In a commendable act of public correction, Pfeiffer clarified her earlier statements after engaging directly with Apeel representatives. She confirmed that OrganiPeel is not a new product, having been in use in grocery stores since 2017. Additionally, she explicitly corrected her implication about Gates’ ownership, acknowledging that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s role was confined to the initial grants.
Pfeiffer concluded her apology by emphasizing the importance of accurate information in discussions about food safety and sustainability. This incident serves as a poignant reminder that while public conversations on critical issues are vital, their helpfulness is directly proportional to their factual basis. Apeel Sciences later reposted Pfeiffer’s apology on X, tweeting, “Disinfo spreads fast. Facts matter more,” underscoring the company’s commitment to transparency.
