PLU Codes — Do You Know the Meaning Behind Fruit and Vegetable Stickers ?

Have you ever noticed the stickers and numbers on fruits and vegetables? Do these codes hold any significance for you as a shopper?

Absolutely.

These are known as Price Look Up (PLU) codes, and they serve an important purpose.

The codes can tell you how the produce was grown—whether it's organic, genetically modified, or conventionally grown with synthetic inputs.

Who manages this ?

IFPS: International Federation for Produce standards.

A four-digit code signifies that the produce was grown using conventional farming methods, which include the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.(made by chemical synthesis).

Five-Digit Codes Starting with 8 are used for genetically modified (GMO) fruits. These fruits/vegetables are created through genetic engineering, which involves altering their DNA in ways that do not occur naturally.

Five-Digit Codes Starting with 9 indicates that the produce was grown organically without chemicals.

The '9' is simply added in front of the conventional four-digit code to denote organic farming practices.

For example,

• BANANA

4011-Conventional, 94011-Organic.

• APPLE

4133-Conventional, 94133-Organic.

• TOMATO

4064-Conventional, 94064 - Organic.

For more PLU codes, you can visit the official IFPS website.