text: Sucrose of fatty acid esters (E 473) is used for surface treatment of some climacteric fruits such as peaches, pears, cherries, apples, bananas, etc. E473 is allowed for application on fruit surfaces in the EU at whatever level is needed to achieve a technical effect (‘quantum satis’) and has limited allowance in the US as a component of protective coatings for fruits (CFR §172.859, limited categories inc. avocados, apples, limes [but not other citrus], peaches, pars, plums, pineapples).The coating preserves the fruits by blocking respiratory gases.