Martha Stewart: How to Wash Citrus Fruit To Remove Waxes and Germs, According to Food Safety Experts (Jennifer J. Quinlan, PhD)
"Jennifer J. Quinlan, PhD, professor and executive director of the Food Security Research Center at Prairie View A&M University, adds that waxes are primarily about preservation: 'They’re to prevent dehydration—to keep the fruit good as long as possible. They give it a better look, so it’s shiny.'"