Do Produce-Saver Products Really Keep Food Fresh Longer?

Gary writes:

I've been seeing ads for products that things that claim to absorb ethylene, which allows produce to last longer. Do these products work? Would baking soda or activated charcoal do the same thing?

We've all had the disheartening experience of having to throw away expensive fruits and vegetables because we didn't use them quickly enough. No one likes to waste money, of course. But there's even more at stake with food waste. We throw away a shocking percentage of the food we produce. That's especially tragic when you consider how many people around the world experience hunger on a daily basis.

Hunger and food insecurity are not just issues faced by developing nations. Here in the United States, the richest nation in the world, more than 10% of households struggle to put food on the table. And that number has increased by 66% since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Right now, 50 million people (including 17 million children) in the U.S. do not have enough to eat on a regular basis. No matter where you live, if you're fortunate enough (as I have been) to have weathered this year-long crisis without worrying about how you'll feed yourself and your family, perhaps you'll join me in donating to your local food bank or an organization like FeedingAmerica.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing hunger or food insecurity, you don't have to go it alone. If you are in the U.S., FeedingAmerica.org can help connect you with resources in your area.

Food waste is also a major player in climate change. Rotting food is responsible for almost 10% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. In fact, if food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming. And fresh produce makes up about a third of all the food we throw away.

If food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming.

All of which is to say: If a $10 product could keep us from throwing away so much food, it would be money well spent. And I'm happy to report that there is some solid science to support these products. But their usefulness may be a bit more targeted than the marketing sometimes suggests.  

What does ethylene do?

Ethylene is a harmless gas that is released or "exhaled" by fruits and vegetables. In general, ethylene production increases as fruits ripen and ethylene, in turn, accelerates the ripening process. 

When we put unripe fruit in a paper bag, the idea is to trap some of the ethylene the produce gives off to hasten the ripening process....

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