These labels, which we come across from time to time in supermarkets, greengrocers and markets, but whose meaning we do not know, are actually trying to tell us something.
These small, sticky stickers have various numerical codes on them. Usually 4 or 5 digit codes are actually fruits and vegetables. how it is produced tells us important information about
These labels are usually found on fruits such as banana, kiwi, pineapple, orange, apple, pear. A number system called PLU exists. These are placed by the shops themselves but produced by the International Manufacturing Standards Federation (IFPS).
First, let’s talk about whether it is dangerous to accidentally eat the materials from which these stickers are made.
PLU labels are made from plastic, paper and even vinyl (an organic compound that falls under the PVC category). The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) considers the adhesive on labels to be a food grade additive. According to FDA reports, stickers Inedible but digestible.
While these adhesives are FDA-approved, they contain various chemicals that are not at all good for the human body, such as rubber chlorides and various types of polymers. Because It is recommended not to eat. You should wash the fruit or vegetable thoroughly before eating it.
So what are these labels trying to tell us?
On the label, there is the name of the manufacturer, the barcode on which the product price is coded and the PLU code indicating which product it is. Most important of all This code also contains information about how the product you received was grown.
What we mean by how he was brought up is this; your product GMO or organic? In addition to being told whether pesticides were used during cultivation, it is also explained.
Which code refers to which upbringing?
The 4-digit code indicates that the fruit or vegetable is grown using traditional methods, using synthetic fertilizers, and in pesticide (insecticide) indicates it exists. Most of the time it is not harmful as pesticide levels are very low. Washing the product properly helps remove residue as well as bacteria and germs.
These are the best-selling fruits and vegetables. codes on them It starts with 3 or 4. For example, 4011 is written in the codes of all bananas.
Fruits or vegetables that have a 5-digit code starting with 8 on the label are GMO, that is, they have been genetically modified.
Genetic structure of the product; make it resistant to disease, It is changed for reasons such as increasing its size or changing its nutrient content.
The code for the standard yellow banana – as we mentioned above – is 4011, while the code for the genetically modified banana is It is 84011.
If there are 5 numbers starting with 9 in the code, that product is organic.
Organic produce usually costs slightly more than conventionally grown produce. Without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers grown and not genetically modified.
Using the PLU system it is not mandatory, willing sellers.
Sources: Live. learn. love. Eat., Times Food, Wonder How To
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