What is the white substance on baby carrots?

Many families like to keep baby carrots in the fridge. They're a healthy, quick, and convenient snack. However, sometimes when you open the bag of vegetables, you notice some 'white' on the carrots... and wonder if they are still edible. Can we eat them?

You should know that this white stuff is perfectly normal and that you can eat the carrots without worry.

But what exactly is this substance?

A persistent myth claims that it is chlorine. But that's false. The whitish film on baby carrots is actually caused by dehydration, which is known as 'blushing' of the carrot.

 Pol Bishop, an expert in gardening and plants at Fantastic Gardeners, explains that this white film forms when the baby carrots are exposed to ambient air. They then lose their moisture. 

"The dehydration of the thin outer layer of the baby carrot makes its surface more rough, and the light scatters on it. This results in whitish traces on the carrot," he explains. 

Moreover, a whitish substance can 

appear due to the damaged skin cells of the carrot.

But why does this white stuff form only on baby carrots and not on 'normal' carrots? 

"It's because baby carrots no longer have their protective skin that prevents dehydration. Normal-sized carrots have retained their protective skin," stated Susan Brandt, co-founder and president of Blooming Secrets.

This whitish stuff may make the orange vegetable look less appetizing, but it is not dangerous.

The white film is harmless. It's just  the sign that the baby carrots are dehydrated. It can be removed by simply washing the carrots or soaking them in water to rehydrate them and restore their orange color. 

According to Mr. Brandt, the 'blushing' of the carrots is not at all a sign of deterioration, but rather of dehydration. You can consume them without fear; they will just be a little drier.

So here is the answer to this existential question!