Since the federal government has prevented labeling (with legislation that overrides any local or state labeling laws) of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), also known as food, it is really hard to know if you are eating GMOs in your diet.
Almost nine years ago, Maria Gallagher wrote in the June 26, 2002 issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper about the PLU stickers on fresh produce that tells if it is conventional, organic or GMO. Look for the labels (stickers) stuck on your fruits and veggies:
A four-digit number means it’s conventionally grown.
A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it’s organic.
A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it’s GM.
The numeric system was developed by the Produce Electronic Identification Board, an affiliate of the Produce Marketing Association, a Newark, Delaware-based trade group for the produce industry. As of October 2001, the board had assigned more than 1,200 PLUs for individual produce items.
For example:
A conventionally grown lemon would be: 4033
An organic lemon would be: 94033
A genetically engineered (GMO) lemon would be: 84033
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