Sticker Labels On Produce Can Tell You Whether Something Is Organically-Grown Or GMO

When we go to the supermarket, we are inundated with tons of labels and barcodes. We usually just ignore all of these things and leave it up to the cashier to deal with all the details. Did you know that there is a lot of interesting information packed into those produce labels you see all the time? They are more than just a label for the type of apple or pear you're looking at. 

Let's find out all the important information you can gather from these PLUs (price look-up codes).

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We've all seen these little stickers on our fruit and veggies, but what are they for?

Of course, they have a barcode so the cashier can ring up the item, but that isn't the only thing it's used for. 

Have you ever noticed a number on the label that begins with a '9'?

This means that the fruit or veggie is organic. 

That's the case for any supermarket, as well.

If you have a four-digit fruit label, your produce has likely been grown conventionally.

Large lemons always have a 4053 code, and if the large lemon was grown organically, the code would be 94053.

If you have a fruit or veggie with a five-digit label beginning with an '8', the food may be genetically-modified (GMO).

You probably won't be seeing too many labels with '8' at the beginning, given that only a small group of GMO fruits and veggies are sold.

Companies are also allowed to label GMO foods the conventional way. Given the negative stigma GMO's have had in the recent past, most companies probably won't volunteer that information if they don't have to.

While all of this information is interesting and useful, it is to be taken with a grain of salt.

The reliability of numerical labels on produce isn't as high as you might expect. Companies are not required to use PLU codes, making it very difficult to determine if unlabeled fruit is GMO or not. If you want to be sure something is organically-grown, make sure it has the word 'organic' on it.

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