Comment by spacechild1

> For example a dead apple is one that was picked a year ago, sold today, kept in storage until now.

It has always been normal for certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, potatoes, etc. to be stored for months in a cellar. In the old days, you simple could not get a fresh apple outside harvest time.

Your concept of "dead food vs live food" seems rather questionable.