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Have you ever looked at two bins of apples, one labeled “organic,” and the other “conventional,” and wondered if the apples might not be the same? I have. And since discovering a little secret of the produce industry, I’ve found that you really have to be a detective in the aisles these days.
The secret is the price look-up (PLU) codes. They’re an international numbering standard that identifies each type of produce, so that computerized cash registers can ring up the cost of fruits and vegetables automatically. They’re also a powerhouse of information for savvy shoppers. The code indicates whether the item is a conventional, organic or genetically modified (GM) crop.
The codes are based on four-digit numbers for conventional produce, to which an extra digit is added to indicate organic or GM status. If the number is five digits beginning with a 9, then the item is organic. If the item is five digits beginning in 8, then it is a genetically modified crop.
For example, the PLU code for bananas is 4011. If the PLU sticker on the banana bunch reads 94011, then they are organic bananas. If the PLU sticker reads 84011, then the bananas are a genetically modified variety.
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1 response so far ↓
1 morizongreen // Apr 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm
This was an exciting new green tip for me, so I did my own quick research on the subject. If you read the article on WIRED.com “Cracking the Frankenfood Code, we learn that there is no requirement for grocers to use the PLU code, which does make it an unreliable labeling system for conscious consumers.
Another reason it may not be as useful system now, as it may prove to be in the future (more GMO produce in the marketplace), is that most of the GMO’s (i.e. rapeseed, corn, soy) are ingredients in our processed foods, which don’t have PLU codes.
Even so, from now on, every time I’m at the market, I’ll be shopping by the numbers!
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