Health Canada will review the use of a wax put on fruits and vegetables that contains a possible cancer-causing substance.

The wax contains morpholine, which a recent World Health Organization reports suggests can possibly transform itself into the carcinogen N-nitrosomorpholine.

The WHO report found no strong evidence that the transformation actually occurs and Health Canada insists it's safe to eat the coated fruit and vegetables.

John Salminen, chemical health-hazard director for Health Canada, said the wax coating only contains traces amounts of morpholine and there is no detectable conversion to the carcinogenic form.

"There's no reason to restrict consumption of fruits and vegetables...because of concerns about morpholine," said Salminen.

Health Canada said the review of morpholine's use in food wax will be completed in a few weeks.

Apple grower's concern sparked review

Quebec apple grower Jean-Luc Legeault prompted the review when he wrote Health Canada about his concerns over morpholine last spring.

Legeault, from St-Joseph-sur-le-Lac, Que., sells unwaxed apples to small, independent stores.

When he tried to break into larger chain stores, he was told he would have to start waxing his apples.

He said Ottawa has never tested morpholine-enhanced wax for fruit, which has been used in Canada, the U.S. and other countries for years.

Legeault cited the WHO study, which recommends that humans shouldn't come into contact with morpholine and it shouldn't be used in food packaging.

Health Canada said it evaluated morpholine in 1996 and ruled the levels used in food wax were not dangerous to human health.

Other apple growers say they're suspicious of Legeault's complaints about the wax.

"I wonder if there is not a marketing issue or war between suppliers," said Steve Lavasseur of the Quebec Apple Growers Federation.