While shopping in the produce section, you may have noticed stickers with a serial number on the fruit. But what does it mean? One man explains what these numbers are, urging more than 505,000 followers to avoid fruit with stickers beginning with the number 4. However, not everyone is on board.
What do the numbers on fruit stickers mean?
In the green screen background of TikTok creator Sheldon Surya’s (@sheldon.surya.369) clip, he reacts to a man holding an apple and pointing with a blade to the four of the apple’s serial number.
“If you guys are consuming any fruits that start with number 4 on the sticker, that means GMO (Genetically Modified Organism),” he says. “If you’re eating apples or anything like that, you’re eating a layer of wax coating they put on this apple.”
“Poisonous coating that they put on this apple to keep them fresh,” he explains. Then, the man scrapes the apple’s skin and drags it across, revealing a white, waxy surface.
As the man continues to repeatedly peel off the wax from various areas of the apple, the content creator notes, “You’ll also notice all the apples look exactly the same in this section. That means it’s been heavily genetically modified.”
Instead, Surya shares an alternative. “You only want to eat fruits that start with the number 9,” he says. “That means it’s organic.”
“So, stay away from the number 4 when you’re at the grocery store,” he advises.
Viewers are divided in the comments section
Some defended Surya by backing up his claims.
“Only organic fruits start with a 9 otherwise the majority of fruits and veggies start with a 4,” one viewer commented.
“Apples definitely don’t grow with wax on it. They spray them even organic ones. I worked in apple factory,” another stated.
On the other hand, most shared their reasons why they disagreed.
“Actually, apples have a natural waxy coating, and they usually use a similar type of wax to coat them after harvest. it’s not poisonous,” one commenter remarked.
“It’s [just] wax bro, that’s why they say wash it before you eat it,” a second wrote.
“He’s wrong GMO starts with an 8. 4 means it’s conventionally grown with pesticides,” a third said.
Is he right?
According to Food & Wine, the Department of Agriculture doesn’t have an established PLU (price look-up) code for conventional (GMO) and organic produce. Despite this, digits starting with “3” or “4” are commonly used for genetically altered produce. Additionally, some products may bear a ‘bioengineered’ label. Moreover, codes that begin with “9” usually indicate organic. The primary difference between conventional and organic farming lies in the pesticides used. Conventional crop production typically employs synthetic fertilizers, whereas organic farming utilizes natural ones. Keep your eyes out for the label. Four digits usually mean conventional, and five digits organic.
Furthermore, apples do produce their own glossy wax coating. As they mature, they develop this protective layer to retain moisture. Since apples lose their natural coating during the cleaning process, packagers apply food-grade wax to them, according to US Apple. Essentially, it preserves the fruit’s freshness and is safe for consumption.
@sheldon.surya.369 #greenscreenvideo ♬ Horror train, horror piano, BGM(1230538) – syummacha
The Mary Sue reached out to Surya via TikTok comment.
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