Unlocking the PLU Code

According to Cooking Light (October issue), the Product Look Up (PLU) code on non-organic fruits and vegetables consists of four digits. Organic produce bears a five-digit code starting with 9. Genetically modified produce bears a five-digit code starting with 8. So take a closer look next time you're in the supermarket.

As a marketer, I believe consumers should be informed about how to decode these ubiquitous numbers. Of course, I also believe in open dating (so buyers can quickly determine when a product expires, for example) but apparently many manufacturers and retailers think otherwise. What do you think?