A Simple Way to Tell if Your Produce is Organic November 16, 2010 by Bob Livingston
You’ve probably noticed those tiny stickers that appear on almost all fruits and vegetables. These stickers contain bar codes for the checkout clerk, but they also contain a secret the store might not want you to know.
Nutritionist Karma Metzgar of the University of Missouri writes that these stickers also tell you if the fruit is organic or genetically modified. On conventionally grown, non-organic fruit, the sticker has only four numbers. Organically grown fruit has a five-numeral code, which begins with the number nine.
Since organic fruits and vegetables now have to be in separate areas in grocery stores, this confirms that your apple hasn’t ended up in the wrong pile. The store does not have to reveal which fruits and vegetables are genetically modified, but you can find out by looking for the stickers that begin with the number eight.
According to Metzgar, this means a regular banana would have a sticker saying 4011, an organic banana would say 94011 and a genetically modified banana would say 84011.
Some people complain that the stickers are too hard to peel off, so it may be a relief to know that the sticker actually contains important information. And, the adhesive is completely safe to eat.
Bob Livingston is an ultra-conservative American who has been writing a newsletter for 41 years. Bob has devoted much of his life to research and the quest for truth on a variety of subjects. Bob specializes in health issues such as nutritional supplements and alternatives to drugs, as well as issues of privacy (both personal and financial), asset protection and the preservation of freedom.