Did you know that without even seeing the label on this box of spinach you can tell if it’s organic, conventional, or genetically modified?
When grocery shopping, signs labeling foods can be scarce. I hate not knowing how much apples cost and whether or not they’re organic or not since I try to avoid buying conventionally grown items from the dirty dozen list. I can imagine labeling things is complicated, but I really don’t understand how there are so few labels in the grocery store!
I can’t tell you how much the apples cost per pound at Whole Foods (probably around $2.49) but I can give you a way to know if that produce is organic, conventional grown or genetically modified… just look at the PLU.
Here’s how to be a sleuth in the produce isle and detect how that apple was grown:
- It’s most likely organic if the PLU is 5 digits and starts with 9.
- It’s most likely conventional if the PLU is 4 digits and starts with a 3 or 4.
- It’s most likely a genetically modified organism if the PLU has 5 digits and begins with an 8.
* In the photo of the box of spinach, the last 5 digits of the sku number is the PLU.
My dumb little high school job was being a cashier – and you tend to remember lots of produce codes! (most common = bananas = 4011. in case anyone was wondering :p) So I guess I forgot that that is why I know about the 9____ and 8____ codes. Good post!
I was wondering if people who worked as a cashier remembered all the codes! It seems like something you couldn’t forget.
Thanks for sharing that very useful information! I need to write this down in my iPod and remember it when I go to the grocery store next.
This is interesting, I had no idea you could tell this simply by looking at the PLU. I don’t ever have issues finding ORGANIC written somewhere on food labels. I find that most companies like to make that known as best they can. Same with GMOs. But maybe it’s different in NYC? who knows.
Cool, I had no idea! I try and go to my local Organic Food Store, just to be safe, but this makes shopping the little vegetable markets more navigable!
um silly question, where’s the plu on that sweet potato?
Too funny, Lauren. It’s just a food photo, not a PLU photo obviously. =)
Great info Jess – THX!!!!!!!!!!
This is fantastic – I just re-blogged about it on my blog to share the info too! Thanks so much!
Aw, thank you! So glad you liked it!
I had no idea! I feel like I either missed this somewhere or am dense. That’s really interesting and something I am definitely going to keep an eye on.
I knew the organic vs conventional but not genetically modified. Good one, thanks!
That is really great information! However, I have to wonder, does the organic coding mean only USDA certified organic? What about products that are produced by small places that can’t afford the expensive efforts to get certified but generally follow all the rules of organic farming?
Either way, awesome advice, and I will be using the info on genetically modified stuff for my tofu and soy purchases.
I don’t think those foods are available in grocery stores.
Did anyone also realize the difference in the taste! to me it is actually striking! Get an organic pineapple and compare it with a gmo one…their are different!
tomato, leek, grapes, salad, strawberries and peaches…are example!
Also organic food truly filled you up more than the gmo one. That is to take in consideration!
I did not know about the dirty list…I will check it out right now, thanks for the post!
… I am a bit in chock now!
to much similarity!