11 Secrets About Produce Your Grocery Store Doesn't Want You To Know

If you have had to buy your own groceries for as long as you probably have, you learn a thing or two about grocery stores.

You know how to find a deal, how to check if a fruit is ripe, you know how to combine coupons so that you don't break the bank.

BUT.

There is something I know you've missed and they're on every piece of produce in the story. Those stickers and you've probably ignored them... but you totally shouldn't.

COMMENTand tell us how helpful these are!

1. Yeah. Those stickers are totally edible. Even the glue it uses is FDA-approved!

Seriously. The glue is listed under the FDA's "List of Indirect Additives Used in Food Contact Substances."

2. The four digit code on any fruit is the same anywhere in the world!

For example #4030 is always a standard Kiwi and #4011 is always a banana.

3. The code means how it was grown- Four-digit ones starting with "3" or "4" = conventionally grown / five-digit codes staring with "9" = organically grown / five-digit codes starting with "8" = genetically modified foods which are perfectly safe and approved by FDA.

"GMOs are cool" said The World Health Organization, 
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 
The American Medical Association and The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. 

As well as the U.S Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, The British Royal Society, and The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine all say they're safe.

4. There are companies that use high-tech laser that could just imprint the codes onto the fruits... so far it's only been approved for citrus fruits.

It worked by zapping off the pigment of the fruit's top layer.

Ever wonder how and why the design of all grocery stores are the same?... 

5. Despite what you might think, there are currently only 1400 PLU codes for all produce.

6. Any slight difference between codes can tell you exactly where the produce came from.

AKA you can figure out how far your food has traveled to end up in your belly.

7. Wash your fruit and vegetables once you're ready to eat it to wash off dirt, dust or bacteria.

The British National Health Service says "When you wash vegetables, wash them under a running tap and rub them under water, for example in a bowl of fresh water. Start with the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse."

8. Grocery stores are designed so you see FRESH PRODUCE at the front in one corner (meaning the store has fresh food) / eggs and milk products on the total opposite corner (so you see a lot of the store to get to it)

Wow... it's all about the sensory overload of goodness by seeing fresh produce right at the start..

But there's more, the newest type of label will help in cleaning the produce!!

9. In China, there are some companies that will put letter-shaped stickers on their fruits that they take off when they're ready to harvest. They call them Rolls Royce Apples.

Makes sense considering that they cost at least $100 U.S....

10. The International Federal of Produce Standards has rigurous testing before adding any produce or produce-related item to it's 1400 code collection!

11. Finally, stock up on fresh produce and greens AFTER you’ve visited the other sections because if you get them first you're more tempted to get more unhealthy options..

GROCERY STORE MIND GAMES

COMMENT and tell us what you think knowing all this!

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Main and Collage image via Rubikloud