Are fruit stickers edible??

ARE FRUIT STICKERS EDIBLE?

The sticker and even the glue is FDA friendly. Obviously, that doesn't mean you're supposed to eat the sticker. Still peel it off when you can, but if you accidentally eat one, you'll be fine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that the paper used is made out of an edible paper.

 

WHAT DO THOSE FRUIT STICKERS TELL US ABOUT THE FRUITS WE BUY? 

Fruit stickers are commonly found on fruits bought from the grocery marts than the ones purchased from the local vendors. The sticker has a PLU code printed on it. This code does not only consist of a bar code for the ease of billing but also contains important information regarding how the fruit or vegetable was grown. It is known as a "price lookup number"

There are three kinds of stickers, leading to three different categories of fruits or vegetables -

In case the fruit has a four-digit number such as 4080, then it implies that the fruit has been grown in the conventional manner. The produce was grown traditionally with the use of pesticides. All bananas have 4011 as the code on the sticker.

If you're welcomed with a five-digit number, beginning with 8, it implies that your fruit was grown with genetic modification. This raises an alarm and is often advised to steer away from. Produce grown with genetic modification poses negative effects on the health and could also be carcinogenic.

If the sticker has a five-digit number beginning with 9, it means that your fruit was grown organically and is best for consumption.

How Did the Stickers Come About?

It's the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) that gives out the stickers all across the world; it enables standardizing of the process.

If your banana or your mango has a "94011" this is a cue for safety of consumption. Next time you visit the supermarket, make sure to be more vigilant and alert the other customers around you. Knowledge is power and it's even more powerful if it concerns health. Let's make fruit shopping more fruitful!