Sticker shock
Ever notice those stickers on your tomatoes, apples or onions? Me, too. But did you ever wonder what those numbers mean? Me, neither. I thought the codes were randomly assigned by the supermarket.
Nope, it turns out that those codes can tell you a lot about your food, according to this great book I spent four hours reading yesterday! (The book is a little old, so I've been cross-referencing the information. I'm fascinated by what I've learned, and I took notes. I'll share more this week!)
Conventionally grown produce bears a four-digit number beginning with a 4 or sometimes a 3.
GMO (genetically modified organisms) produce is labeled with a five-digit code beginning with an 8. (Now you know how to avoid the icky stuff!)
Organic produce also has a five-digit code, but organic codes begin with a 9.
Look before you buy!
Example:
4011= conventional bananas
84011=genetically modified bananas
94011=organic bananas
3 Comments:
I never paid much attention to the codes either, but I will now. Thanks for sharing!
What exactly is "icky" about GMO foods? Over 85% of the US soybean crop and 50% of the corn crop is GMO.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering/ge-agriculture-and-genetic-pol
Do any web search for GM soy, GM corn, GMO. Read what you find. Then you tell me. What we eat, it's sometimes scary! :)
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