How to Read Produce Labels

What do you think is one of the most confusing things to grocery shoppers? Produce stickers and labels hold a lot more information than simply the cute name or slogan of a fruit of veggie. By reading the sticker number, you can actually confirm if the piece of produce you hold in your hand is organic, not organic and/or genetically modified. How? Notice that the bar code on that sticker is for price information.

Next, notice that the labels on fruits and veggies will have a 4 or 5 digit code.

If your produce has 4 digits, it means that it was “conventionally grown, but not organic”.

If it has 5 digits, and begins with a 9, it means that the produce was organically grown.

A 5 digit code that begins with an 8 indicates that the produce was genetically

modified.

 

For example, the kiwi in the photo has a code “4030”
So, this kiwi is not organic, but conventionally grown. It is NOT genetically modified.

 

The same

is true for the melon with the number: “4317”

If an apple sticker said “96584” it would have been grown organically. An apple with “86584” would be genetically altered. Honeydew melon with a “4317” conventionally grown, but not organic”.