You’re not meant to eat them, most aren’t biodegradable and, basically, they’re a pain. But … the four or five-number code on fruit and vegie stickers can tell you a lot about the product, such as the exact location it was grow in and even what chemicals or pesticides were used in the growing process.
There is a unique Product Look Up or PLU code for each variety of a produce item. For example, an organically grown Fuji apple has a different code to a conventionally grown Jazz apple.
Organic produce has a five-digit PLU number and begins with the number 9.
Conventional produce has a four-digit PLU number that begins with a 3 or a 4.
Genetically modified (GMO) produce has a five-digit PLU number that begins with the number 8. But there are no GMO fruit, vegetables, meat and fish for sale here.
Stickers also indicate the country of origin, which can be helpful for those looking to reduce their food miles.
You can look up the PLU codes here.
If you’re paying extra for organic produce, do you check that it really is organic?
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