GUIDE TO HOW TO BUY NON GMO PRODUCE

[TBomb]

STICKERS THAT START WITH A "4"  ARE FOR "CONVENTIONALLY GROWN" PRODUCE

 

"8" STICKERS ARE FOR GENETICALLY  MODIFIED

 

"9" STICKERS ARE FOR ORGANIC PRODUCE

 

 

What The Numbers On Produce Stickers Really Mean | World Truth.TV

Have you ever wondered what the numbers on those produce stickers mean? The four- or five-digit numbers can actually tell you a lot about the produce you buy....

WORLDTRUTH.TV

What The Numbers On Produce Stickers Really Mean

 

Have you ever wondered what the numbers on those produce stickers mean? The four- or five-digit numbers can actually tell you a lot about the produce you buy.

 

Although they seem like a nuisance, the stickers or labels attached to fruit and some vegetables have more of a function than helping scan the price at the checkout stand. The PLU code, or price lookup number printed on the sticker, also tells you how the fruit was grown. By reading the PLU code, you can tell if the fruit was genetically modified, organically grown or produced with chemical fertilizers, fungicides, or herbicides.

 

 

Want to know if those Gala apples are organic, the potatoes conventionally grown, or the corn genetically modified? To the right is a simple graphic that breaks down the codes for you.

 

When you shop for produce, it’s important to keep in mind that some fruits and vegetables have more pesticide residue than others.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the basics of what you should know:

1. If there are only four numbers in the PLU, this means that the produce was grown conventionally or “traditionally” with the use of pesticides. The last four letters of the PLU code are simply what kind of vegetable or fruit. An example is that all bananas are labeled with the code of 4011.
2. If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “8″, this tells you that the item is a genetically modified fruit or vegetable. Genetically modified fruits and vegetables trump being organic. So, it is impossible to eat organic produce that are grown from genetically modified seeds. A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011
3. If there are five numbers in the PLU code, and the number starts with “9″, this tells you that the produce was grown organically and is not genetically modified. An organic banana would be: 94011

Incidentally, the adhesive used to attach the stickers is considered food-grade, but the stickers themselves aren’t edible.

The Produce Marketing Association in fact created a five-digit numbering system for price look-up numbers for genetically modified produce beginning with the digit “8,” just in case some company should want to keep track of genetically modified produce in their inventories.

 

In fact, many companies have stopped shipping produce to the state of Vermont, which requires identification of genetically modified produce and seeds by use of the code. Produce wholesalers prefer to avoid the question of which vegetables and fruits may have been genetically modified. And there are only three vegetables and one fruit in the American market that are actually GMO:

•    Papayas from Hawaii (but not papayas from any other source),

•    Some sweet corn

•    Almost all yellow squash and zucchini, which were genetically modified in the early 1990’s to give them resistance to a mosaic virus that causes green mottling on their skin.

Produce that is labeled as organic cannot include any intentionally added genetically modified ingredients. An organic farmer is not prevented from calling sweet corn organic even if pollen from genetically modified corn plants blew in from other fields.

And what about checking the produce code for the “9” to indicate it was organically grown? American companies are not using this convention, either. The code 4129, for instance, is used both for conventionally raised Fuji apples and for organic Fuji apples. Certified organic produce is labeled in words reading “certified organic,” and you can also tell by the price.

Source:

www.mindbodygreen.com

Edited March 19, 2015 by TBomb

[Markinsa]

  What is Organic?  

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

 

How Are Organic Products Overseen?

The National Organic Program regulates all organic crops, livestock, and agricultural products certified to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards. Organic certification agencies inspect and verify that organic farmers, ranchers, distributors, processors, and traders are complying with the USDA organic regulations. USDA conducts audits and ensures that the more than 90 organic certification agencies operating around the world are properly certifying organic products. In addition, USDA conducts investigations and conducts enforcement activities to ensure all products labeled as organic meet the USDA organic regulations. In order to sell, label, or represent their products as organic, operations must follow all of the specifications set out by the USDA organic regulations.

 

How Do I Know if My Food Is Organic?

Look at the label. If you see the USDA organic seal, the product is certified organic and has 95 percent or more organic content. For multi-ingredient products such as bread or soup, if the label claims that it is made with specified organic ingredients, you can be confident that those specific ingredients have been certified organic.

 

What About Other Labels?

There are other voluntary labels for livestock products, such as meat and eggs. Animal raising claims must be truthful and not misleading. USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service verifies the truthfulness of these claims:

 

Free-range. This label indicates that the flock was provided shelter in a building, room, or area with unlimited access to food, fresh water, and continuous access to the outdoors during their production cycle. The outdoor area may or may not be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material. This label is regulated by the USDA.

 

Cage-free. This label indicates that the flock was able to freely roam a building, room, or enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh water during their production cycle.

 

Natural. As required by USDA, meat, poultry, and egg products labeled as “natural” must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products. There are no standards or regulations for the labeling of natural food products if they do not contain meat or eggs.

 

Grass-fed. Grass-fed animals receive a majority of their nutrients from grass throughout their life, while organic animals’ pasture diet may be supplemented with grain. Also USDA regulated, the grass-fed label does not limit the use of antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides. Meat products may be labeled as grass-fed organic.

 

Pasture-raised. Due to the number of variables involved in pasture-raised agricultural systems, the USDA has not developed a federal definition for pasture-raised products.

 

Humane. Multiple labeling programs make claims that animals were treated humanely during the production cycle, but the verification of these claims varies widely. These labeling programs are not regulated under a single USDA definition.

 

No added hormones. A similar claim includes “Raised without Hormones.” Federal regulations have never permitted hormones or steroids in poultry, pork, or goat.

 

Protecting Organic Integrity

30,000 on-site inspections per year by certifying agents to monitor compliance with USDA organic standards

Certifying agent audits to ensure appropriate monitoring

Residue testing program to verify that prohibited pesticides aren’t being applied to organic crops

Robust compliance and enforcement activities

Issue-based investigations (e.g. country- or commodity-specific)

 

Interested in learning more?

Check out the Organic 101 articles on the USDA blog!

 

Organic Literacy Initiative: connecting you with USDA resources

[Saintsfan]

Thank you

[MillieChatham]

Excellent. Knew about the 4 and the 9 but not the 8. Have been going organic as much as possible for close to 40 (gasp!) years.

So glad the movement is finally gaining steam as well as the awareness of GMO. Hope more dinarians are reading this. Thanks

[bigwave]

I just looked on a bannana and the number is indeed 84011 - darn.

[FlyHi]

Over here a banana is a banana  ....no codes are required for sale 

 

Lets see what type (of 7 varieties in my yard) do I feel like today... I'll just go grab one hand off that bunch 

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Shopping now. Does anyone know what a code

3 is?

[millionaire in training]

Thanks TBomb now Im checking everything that I can get my hands on.

 

LGD.......don't know what the 3 stands for.  I haven't come across it yet.

[Markinsa]

PLU Code Guide

 

PLU Code FAQS

[leanonme]

Good to know! Thanks.