When we go to the store to buy fruits and vegetables, we usually look for things like, “Is it ripe?” or “Does it look good?” But there’s a secret language hidden in plain sight: those small stickers on the fruit. These stickers have numbers that tell you important things about how your food was grown. Knowing what these numbers mean can help you make better choices about what you eat.
Decoding the Numbers
These numbers, called PLU codes (Price Look-Up codes), tell you how the fruit or vegetable was farmed. Let’s look at the two most important ones:
- Starts with 9: “Naturally Grown” (Organic)
- If a sticker has a five-digit number that starts with the number 9, it means the food is organic. This means that farmers grew the food without using strong chemicals, like pesticides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Organic farming is often seen as a way to be kinder to the earth. It helps protect the soil and water. Many people choose organic foods because they want to avoid eating food that has been treated with chemicals.
- “Organic farming is good for the earth.” This method of growing food aims to keep the environment healthy.
- Starts with 8: “Changed Inside” (GMO)
- If the sticker starts with the number 8, it means the food is a GMO. This means that the food’s DNA, its genetic code, has been changed in a lab.
- Some people support GMOs because they can help farmers grow more food and make crops stronger. For example, GMO fruits like papayas, apples, and grapes are common. “Some like GMOs for more food and better crops.”
- However, other people are worried about the possible effects of GMOs on our health and the environment. They want to know more about the long-term effects of eating these foods.
Why Knowing the Numbers Matters
These numbers are important because they give you the power to choose the food that matches your values.
- A sticker starting with 9 means the food was grown organically, without strong chemicals.
- A sticker starting with 8 means the food’s DNA was changed in a lab.
By understanding these numbers, you can make informed decisions about what you put in your body.
Tips for Smart Shopping
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