How to tell if your produce is geneticaly modified

[Dancing Lotus]

For fresh produce there are three types you can choose from.
There is Organic, conventional and Genetically modified.
Most organic food is labeled as such but there really is no way to know if that apple is conventional or genetically modified.
Or is there?
It's in the code.
The numbers on the sticker either begin with a 4, 8, or 9. 9 IS ORGANIC. 4 is conventional, and 8 or 5 is genetically modified. So always look at the little sticker on the apples, tomatoes, bananas, etc. and make sure it starts with a 9 or a 4. Stay clear of 8 or 5.
The code on my Braeburn apple is 4103 so it's a conventional apple.

[Palooka]

Thanks for the info on this. Seems I read something like this before.

[IntlMom]

hey, that's great info - I didn't know about the 8 and 5 being GMO
~thanks~

[frugalfranny]

Thanks.....for the reminder.

My sister told me about this years ago and I had forgotten...had actually lost the paper I wrote it down on.

[Nada.Leona]

Is this just a US thing or does this apply to Canada too? Anyone know?

[Dancing Lotus]

Is this just a US thing or does this apply to Canada too? Anyone know?

I really don't know but I would guess that most of your produce comes from the places ours does

[Booklover]

Wow, how could I have missed this? Thank you so much for the info. It's a keeper.

[monkeywrangler71]

Is this just a US thing or does this apply to Canada too? Anyone know?

PLU codes are an international standard and are assigned to a particular type of produce, so the code for a Macintosh apple for example should be 4152 no matter where you are. The regular 4 digit code is conventional, and for organic or modified the 9 or 8 is added to the beginning of the conventional code - so if that same apple was organic, it would be 94152.

[shoiji]

Thanks for the info. Now to check the pears I have.

[lullaby80]

What an awesome tip! I'll keep my eyes open now when shopping for produce.

[morrisjlm3]

These days a company that is non GMO is pretty proud of it. Look for "non GMO" on the label.

[nodmicks]

hummm the orange I'm peeling starts with a 3. 3108 actually. Says it is grown in CA USA. So what is a 3?

[Paws]

That's really good information to know...I'll be checking my produce from now on!!

Thanks so much for posting this!!

[Dancing Lotus]

hummm the orange I'm peeling starts with a 3. 3108 actually. Says it is grown in CA USA. So what is a 3?

I do not know. I have never seen a 3 but I believe I recall reading something about all other numbers being GMO. But don't quote me on it.

[nodmicks]

Thanks Ann!