TCnbc Magazine - 17
Know Your GMO Foods
It's a well known fact that cheap foods equal expensive
illnesses and now that health conscious consumers are
getting wise to GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms),
they are starting to examine the labels!
WHAT LABELS?
Well most produce comes with those irritating adhesive labels, that we scratch into the vegetable or fruit to remove, but be thankful for them!
Here are the basics of what you should know:
1. 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. An example is that all bananas are
labeled with the code of 4011.
2. 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
3. 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