PLU Produce Labels

There is a post with a picture of an apple going around facebook lately telling people how they can avoid GMO foods. Here is the post:  Have you ever wondered what those numbered stickers on your produce mean? Besides inventory control and pricing information for the grocery clerk, they may be useful to you as well.

Non-qualified (conventionally grown, with the use of pesticides) produce codes will be either 4 digits or sometimes 5 digits, with the first bein

g a "0".

Genetically modified produce will have a 5 digit code beginning with an "8". (These CAN be organic.)

And organic produce, that has not been genetically modified, has a 5 digit code that begins with "9".

You should note that the codes are used for the convenience of the supplier and grocer, not necessarily for the benefit of the consumer. So not all produce bears a PLU code, particularly the genetically modified.

Although these codes are used, they are only used as a convenience to grocers and are not required to be used. You will see the "9" number used frequently in stores to distinguish organic versus conventionally grown food. This is the way the grocer uses to distinguish between the two at the cash register. This is done mainly because the organic produce is usually more expensive and they want to make sure the consumer is charged the proper amount. Unfortunately, the "8" number is rarely used and not required to be used by any regulatory agency here in the U.S. GMO food are not required to be labeled here in the states. 

There is a grass roots effort at this point to have GMO's labeled in stores. Until that happens though, we probably will not see the "8" number used voluntarily.