THE COUNTRY HAS THE TRADITION OF GIVING FRUIT OR APPLE-SHAPED SWEETS ON CHRISTMAS EVE
What they share: video showing people painting apples red. The post’s caption states that China has “processing companies” where artificial colors and preservatives are added to fruit.
Estadão Verifica investigated and concluded that: it’s false. The process shown in the viral video is similar to what is done in chocolate factories in China. The Asian country has a Christmas tradition of giving apples to people. It’s common for apple-shaped chocolates to be made at this time of year and then painted to look like the fruit.
Find out more: The same video that went viral in recent days has already been shared and has had thousands of views on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram since at least 2023. It has several subtitles, in different languages. Some content says China or India produces fake apples for export.
Others say this is the process of producing decorative apples for Christmas. A reverse image search led to content with images of a similar process in a chocolate factory.
The Chinese have a tradition of giving apples at Christmas
Even if the image is not exactly the same, the process shown in the video is very similar to what is done in Chinese chocolate factories, especially during the Christmas period. The country has a tradition of giving apples to people at this time of year.
In an excerpt from the video that went viral, several apples are seen in a box with a stamp in gold letters. The inscription reads “Merry Christmas Eve – 12/24”.
In Mandarin, the expression “Christmas Eve” is written “ping an ye”, which in turn has a similar sound to “ping guo”, which means apple. There are also those who refer to the apple as “ping an guo”, or “fruit of peace”.
This is why at Christmas there are apples on Christmas tables and in shopping centers. It is common for fruit to be given as gifts, in decorated boxes and in the form of chocolate. This video shows white chocolate apples painted red in a factory. This one shows a similar process, where the apple is filled with chocolate sprinkles.
Brazil does not import Chinese apples
The Brazilian Association of Apple Producers said it was not aware of the practice shown in the video in relation to apple cultivation in China. The association states that this behavior would also be inappropriate for production in Brazil.
“ABPM members produce according to rigorous international certification protocols, are regularly monitored and guarantee the supply of a natural, safe and suitable product for human consumption”, reads the note.
Brazil does not import Chinese apples. In the Asian country there are phytosanitary restrictions on the product due to quarantine parasites that do not exist in Brazil. “Therefore, the introduction of this fruit is not permitted, guaranteeing the protection of national production”, explains the association.
According to the Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives (Abrafruta), apples are among the three most consumed fruits in the country, along with oranges and bananas. On average, Brazilians eat about 900 thousand tons of fresh apples per year. In general, domestic production is self-sufficient, but the last two harvests suffered due to the lack of an ideal cold climate and a larger volume had to be imported.
In the 2024 harvest, Brazil produced 831.8 thousand tons and had to import 235.1 thousand tons. In the 2025 harvest, domestic production was 844.9 thousand tons and imports were 135 thousand tons, according to Comex data. According to Abrafruta, imports mainly came from Chile, Argentina and Italy.
For the next harvest, ABPM expects production of 1.1 million tonnes. Today, Brazil produces apples mainly in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina and exports mainly to India, Portugal, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The expectation is to expand its presence in Asia, with negotiations with Indonesia and Malaysia.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
