Have you ever wondered what those PLU (price look up) codes mean on the stickers that come affixed to your fruits and vegetables? The folks over at Sprig.com have put together a video that walks you through the basics of how to read the codes. When the code is printed with just four digits, it means that you are holding a conventionally grow product. Organic products have a five digit code that always starts with the number nine. Genetically modified produce also has a five digit number, but it always starts with the number eight.
Now you can tell with just a glance if the apple you just picked out of the bin is conventional, organic or GMO. This is particularly handy for those times when the display has gotten a little messy and you can't tell exactly where one pile ends and another starts.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-01-2007 @ 7:45PM
Kostika said...
They don't say if that is the same for the EU also except for the mention on GMOs.
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10-02-2007 @ 9:31AM
Jon said...
Good to know.
I want to see better origin labeling on produce. When I pick up an apple, I want to know what state, or at least what region, the apple is from. "Product of USA" doesn't help; something could be from 3000 miles away but still a product of USA.
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10-02-2007 @ 12:52PM
jsmylie said...
I had to memorize so many of these damned codes back when I was a grocery clerk...glad to finally know what they mean!
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