People just learning the hidden meaning of numbers on apple stickers

With autumn officially upon us, many will choose to add apples to their baked goods, as it's the season for it. However, if you've ever purchased an apple, you'll likely have noticed that they all come with individual stickers.

What many might not realise, though, is that these stickers come with a secret number code that signifies different things. The small sticker on an apple refers to a Price Look-Up (PLU) code, which identifies the fruit's variety, size, and how it was grown (organic, conventional, or genetically modified). This code helps cashiers in ringing up the correct price and provides information to consumers about the product at the point of sale.

But one health influencer, named Zib Atkins has now encouraged people to pay attention to the numbers displayed on the stickers, as it could mean you're consuming more than you might realise.

Taking to TikTok, Zib was seen with a large range of different types of apples, all of which with different numbers on the stickers. He then proceeded to urge people to steer clear of certain number variations.

"And this is why you wanna avoid anything that starts with a four or a three," they said. "Instead you wanna start with a nine. Let me show you why."

He went on to explain that most apples that you buy in the supermarket are coated in wax. However, he continued to explain that if the number on the apple sticker begins with a three or a four, it means that it's non-organic.

"Meaning the wax itself isn't natural and can be toxic," he explained. "And it's concealing all the pesticides that have been sprayed over that apple."

Zib went on to say in the caption of the video: "Did you know the first number on the sticker of your apples tells you a lot? If it starts with a 3 or 4 - it's non-organic, coated in synthetic wax, and hiding pesticides. If it starts with a 9 - it's organic and much safer."

It's worth noting that this wax is safe to consume and is applied after the apples are washed to remove the natural bloom and dirt. Loose apples from greengrocers or farmers' markets are less likely to be waxed artificially.

According to British Wax, harvested fruit is washed thoroughly and the natural layer of wax is removed. A fresh coat of wax enhances the appearance of the fruit, but it also helps the fruit retain water, which in turn extends the lifespan of the fruit.

Whilst all the wax has been approved for use on foods, as it's considered safe to consume, there are also methods you can use to wash off the wax, if you so wish.

So what can you do to avoid this?

Zib went on to say that you could purchase organic apples in order to reduce the risk of getting artificial waxes and fewer pesticides on your fruit. However, there's also a simple way for you to clean away the wax yourself from the comfort of your home.

"Or, if you wanna minimise your risk and reduce some of those pesticides, get yourself a couple of litres of water," he began, before saying to mix in a teaspoon of baking soda.

"Then soak your apples in it for 15 minutes," he said. "Take them out, scrub them with a hard brush, and that should reduce about 90% of the surface pesticides, anyway."