Decoding your Produce Stickers: What Those Numbers Actually Mean

Ever squinted at a banana and wondered what that weird little sticker is trying to tell you, besides how hard it is to peel off without leaving glue behind? Those numbers aren’t random. They’re called PLU codes (Price Look-Up codes), and they can actually tell you a lot about your produce.

Here’s your quick and dirty guide to what those tiny codes really mean, and how to use them to avoid pesticides, GMOs, or just plain produce lies.

PLU Code 101: What You’re Looking At

PLU codes are typically 4 or 5-digit numbers printed on fruit and veggie stickers. These codes are standardized by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) and are used at checkout to identify the item and how it was grown.

But the first digit? That’s where the magic happens!

If It’s 4 Digits and Starts with a 3 or 4…

That’s conventionally grown produce. It means the fruit or veggie was likely grown using pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and all the usual agri-chemical suspects.

Example:

• 4011 = Conventional banana

• 4131 = Conventional apple

Not GMO, but not chemical-free either. It’s your average grocery store produce.

If It’s 5 Digits and Starts with a 9…

You’re looking at the holy grail; organic produce.

This means the item was grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetic engineering. It also has stricter animal welfare and soil standards.

Example:

• 94011 = Organic banana

• 94131 = Organic apple

This is your cleanest, greenest choice especially for the Dirty Dozen produce like strawberries, spinach, and apples.

If It’s 5 Digits and Starts with an 8…

That means it’s genetically modified (GMO)… In reality? You’ll probably never see this in stores.

Why? Because nobody voluntarily labels their produce as GMO because marketing departments aren’t stupid. The 8-prefix PLU exists, but it’s essentially the ghost of transparency past.

Example:

• 84011 = GMO banana (hypothetically, since GMO bananas aren’t on shelves… yet)

If it starts with an 8, it’s genetically engineered, but good luck finding it labeled that way.

Cheat Sheet:

Code	# Digits	Meaning
4-digit (starts with 3 or 4)	4	Conventionally grown (pesticides used)
5-digit (starts with 9)	5	Organic (non-GMO, no synthetic pesticides)
5-digit (starts with 8)	5	GMO (but rarely labeled as such)

Extra Nerdy Fun (You Know You Want It)

• The PLU code doesn’t affect quality. Just because something’s organic doesn’t mean it’s ripe or tasty. Always use your nose and common sense.

• Not all produce has a sticker. Think bundles (like herbs) or bagged fruit, they’ll have a label on the packaging instead.

• You can Google PLU codes if you’re ever unsure what you're buying. Try it in-store. Nothing says “conscious shopper” like someone fact-checking a plum.

Sticker Glue: Is It Edible?

Technically, yes. The FDA considers the glue food-safe. But let’s not start eating banana stickers like a snack. Peel ‘em off, compost the fruit, and move on.

Pro Tip: Vote With Your Wallet

Want more organic, pesticide-free, or regenerative produce in your store? Buy it. Support brands and farms doing it right. Even asking your store to stock more 94000-range produce sends a message.

Reading labels shouldn’t require a decoder ring, but here we are, playing produce detective like it’s CSI: Grocery Edition.