Actress Michelle Pfeiffer has admitted her mistake after accusing Bill Gates of contaminating the US food supply. In an apology posted on Instagram, the iconic actress, who had previously taken a break from her private life to criticize the Microsoft founder, walked back on her earlier comments about the FDA-approved food coating product, Apeel, which is used to extend the shelf life of food.
Pfeiffer’s initial post had stated, “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 had mistakenly believed that Bill Gates owned the company that makes the product. After being contacted by the company, she wrote, “Apeel has informed me that The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded two research grants to Apeel Sciences and Gates has no role or ownership in Apeel.”
Her post continued by clarifying that the product she criticized “was not JUST approved but was first allowed back in 2017, and I was told by the company it has not been in circulation for over two years as it prepares to roll out new organic formulations to meet the evolving needs of the organic industry.” She concluded by adding, “Public conversations about food safety and sustainability matter deeply, but they’re only as helpful as they are accurate.”
Apeel Sciences shared her apology on X, with the caption, “Disinfo spreads fast. Facts matter more.” The company thanked Pfeiffer for “setting the record straight: Gates has no ownership or role in Apeel; Organipeel was approved in 2017; Not used commercially in 2+ years,” and concluded with the statement, “We lead with transparency. Always have.”
