Can you spot a GMO food by its PLU sticker?

   You know those tiny, annoying stickers they put on produce, the ones you have to peel off before you eat? Many think they hold the secret to knowing whether or not the food is genetically modified. Those stickers are the PLU (Price Look Up) code stickers. A four digit number means the produce is Conventionally-grown, (not organic). Organic produce has five digits and is prefixed with the number “9”.
   Across the internet you will see people advising you to avoid the genetically modified foods by noticing a five digit code that begins with the number “8”. The problem is that growers are not required to label genetically modified produce. Once upon a time it was thought that consumers would pay more for GMOs. Now that this is not the case, you don’t see many (if any) 8-prefixed fruits or vegetables.
   So, contrary to much of the advice you will read on the internet, the only way to know you are not eating genetically modified produce by the PLU number is to buy organic, five digits, starting with a “9”.