PLU code literally means, Price Look Up code!
While you are out on the road, you may be shopping at some stores with which you may not be familiar.
It's in the produce area that you will want to know what kind of veggies and fruits they are offering.
Believe it or not, the stickers on your fruits and vegetables at the grocery store are more than just to tell the checker how much to charge. The PLU code, (price look up number) printed on the sticker, also tells you how the fruit was grown.
Here are the basics of what you should know: - 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. Let's say the code on a banana would be 4011
- 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 possible to eat organic produce that are grown from genetically modified seeds. A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011
- 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
BTW, the adhesive used to attach the stickers is considered food-grade, but the stickers themselves aren’t edible.
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