New Report Reveals That Mac Was Right About Apple Peels on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’

Any apple-eaters who haven’t been paying attention to the advice of the resident science expert on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia would do well to invest in some cigarettes.

On It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mac and Dennis’ roommate relationship has always been complicated, chaotic and dangerously codependent. However, as the seasons progress, the unhealthy cohabitation arrangement has grown even more deranged — sometimes, Dennis is a manipulative mastermind who subtly controls Mac’s always-fluctuating body and body image. Other times, they’re like a psychotic suburban couple who are one more dogmeat mac and cheese away from a murder-suicide situation. But ultimately, Mac and Dennis’ near-marriage is built on a foundation of mutual care, as demonstrated by their brief split in the Season Five episode “Mac and Dennis Break Up.”

Central to the storyline of the classic episode is Dennis’ aversion to eating apple skins based on the dietary advice of his once-and-future roommate, who claims that apple peels are “loaded with toxins.” Well, according to a recently published report in the American Chemical Society’s journal Nano Letters, any pesticides applied to an apple will penetrate the peel and cannot be washed away by warm water, meaning that the only way to fully avoid ingesting the chemicals is to remove the fruit’s skin.

Maybe it’s time to start rethinking our relationship with the fossil records — we wouldn’t want to end up on the wrong end of the evolution meter and look like a bitch.

“This study, situated within the expansive realm of food safety, endeavors to furnish health guidance to consumers,” explained professor Dongdong Ye of Anhui Agricultural University in China and the author of the all-important apple peel study in a statement for The Guardian. “Rather than fostering undue apprehension, the research posits that peeling can effectively eliminate nearly all pesticide residues, contrasted with the frequently recommended practice of washing.”

Importantly, neither Ye nor his study have decisively concluded that pesticide residue in fruit peels poses a significant health threat to the average apple eater. Rather, Ye hopes that his findings will help scientists understand how pesticides interact with the foods they protect while giving skeptical consumers an easy apple preparation method to ensure peace of mind.

Still, Ye’s study feels incomplete. After all, everyone knows that the skin isn’t the only potentially toxic part of an apple, as the seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide. So, next time you eat an apple that your roommate peeled for you, be sure to keep a pack of Marlboros ready just in case. It’s the only way to ensure perfect health, or so says Mac.