Leifer
Senior Member.
The Claim:
Many sites are sharing the click-bait title and article, "Here's How to Identify GMO Tomatoes in 2 Easy Steps"....
....with many using this graphic photo :
The text usually reads:
(excerpt)
A PLU is short for "Price Look-Up" code. It's that sticker on fruits and veggies in US and other world supermarkets.
PLU's are governed and proposed by the IFPS
(0)+four digits means the produce is "conventionally grown source". (zero is not shown)
(9)+four digits means it is "organically grown source". (five digits total)
(8)+four digits was reserved for potentially "GMO grown source" (five digits total)
The prefix #8 has not been needed so far, so...
Since no GMO produce is sold anyway, "8" now means :
Many sites are sharing the click-bait title and article, "Here's How to Identify GMO Tomatoes in 2 Easy Steps"....
....with many using this graphic photo :
The text usually reads:
(excerpt)
Background, and why the above claim is false:......in this article we are going to show you an easy way that will help you identify these GMO tomatoes and you will know what to eat.
......first, you should know that fruits and vegetables that are grown in the usual way (with the injection of chemicals) are labeled with a code consisting of four digits. And Organic fruits and vegetables have a price tag with a code consisting of five digits, starting with the number 9. Genetically modified (GMO) fruits and vegetables have a price tag with a code consisting of five digits starting with the number 8!
A PLU is short for "Price Look-Up" code. It's that sticker on fruits and veggies in US and other world supermarkets.
PLU's are governed and proposed by the IFPS
It's a 5 digit code.
IFPS is the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) is composed of national produce associations from around the globe.
The long term objective of the federation is to improve the supply chain efficiency of the fresh produce industry through developing, implementing and managing harmonized international standards.
http://www.ifpsglobal.com/About-IFPS
(0)+four digits means the produce is "conventionally grown source". (zero is not shown)
(9)+four digits means it is "organically grown source". (five digits total)
(8)+four digits was reserved for potentially "GMO grown source" (five digits total)
The prefix #8 has not been needed so far, so...
But based on the prefix "8" 's prior intention, some sites and people believe or claim this prefix means such labeled produce is "GMO sourced".......without noticing that "8" now means something entirely different, due to changes and advancements in PLU labeling.PLU Code Transition - Leading Digit '8' by cdallaccoAs the adoption of price look-up (PLU) codes gain further traction in the produce industry, the IFPS has committed to transitioning the previously unused prefix '8' to accommodate an increase in varieties of fresh produce items as they enter the market. Please refer to the press release (English, Spanish and French) for further information. Additional information can also be found in this article which is an extract from the October 2015 Fresh Magazine issue published by PMA.
http://www.ifpsglobal.com/Identification/PLU-Codes
Since no GMO produce is sold anyway, "8" now means :
Not forgetting to mention, that there are no GMO tomatoes sold, anywhere, anyhow.
As International Federation for Produce Standards
(IFPS), for which I (Ed Treasy) volunteer as Chairman of
the Board, reported this summer, IFPS committed
to transitioning the previously unused “8” prefix
to accommodate an increase in varieties of fresh
produce items as they enter the market. The transition
comes at a time when the demand for the
voluntary codes, used for price identification in retail,
is increasing in North America, Europe, South
America, Australia, New Zealand and more recently,
Mexico.
http://www.ifpsglobal.com/Portals/22/IFPS Documents/Prefix 8/IFPS Prefix 8 Fresh Mag article Sept 2015.pdf?ver=2015-10-07-204449-613
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