Are the stickers on fruit safe to eat?

December 10, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the FDA, the adhesives, paper, and inks used for produce stickers are considered food-safe for incidental contact. This means that while accidentally swallowing one is generally harmless, these materials are not meant for consumption, so are the stickers on fruit safe to eat? The short answer is no, and here's why.

Quick Summary

Fruit stickers are made from food-safe, non-toxic materials, so accidental ingestion is not harmful. However, these labels are not digestible, provide no nutritional value, and are not intended to be eaten. It is best practice to remove and discard them before consuming your produce.

Key Points

Not Edible: While non-toxic, fruit stickers are not meant for human consumption and provide no nutritional value.
Food-Safe, Not Food: The materials are regulated by the FDA to be safe for incidental contact with food, not for deliberate ingestion.
Generally Harmless: If accidentally swallowed, a sticker will likely pass through your system undigested and cause no harm.
Environmental Concern: Most stickers are not biodegradable and contribute to plastic waste, challenging composting efforts.
PLU Codes: The stickers carry Price Look-Up codes that identify the fruit's type, variety, and growing method (conventional vs. organic).
Choking Risk: Small children face a potential choking hazard from the tiny size of the stickers.
Best Practice: Always peel off the sticker and wash the fruit thoroughly before eating to remove any residue.

What are fruit stickers made of?

Most Price Look-Up (PLU) stickers found on fresh produce are made of three components: the face material (often a paper or synthetic plastic film like vinyl), a pressure-sensitive, food-grade adhesive, and food-safe ink. The materials are strictly regulated by food safety authorities like the FDA to be non-toxic and approved for indirect food contact. This means they can be in contact with the edible portion of the food without leaching harmful chemicals, but it does not mean they are designed to be ingested. The synthetic polymers or natural extracts (like seaweed or starch) used in the adhesive are designed for adherence, not digestion.

Why do fruits and vegetables have stickers?

These seemingly insignificant stickers serve a very important purpose in the modern food supply chain, primarily for retailers and consumers.

PLU Codes: The most prominent feature is the Price Look-Up (PLU) code. These 4- or 5-digit numbers help cashiers quickly identify and price bulk produce, ensuring accuracy at the checkout.
Growing Method: The PLU code also indicates the product's growing method. A 4-digit code signifies conventionally grown produce, while a 5-digit code beginning with a '9' indicates the fruit is certified organic.
Branding and Traceability: The stickers often include the producer's brand logo, assisting with inventory management, marketing, and tracing produce back to its source in the event of a recall.

Health concerns and safety regulations

While accidentally ingesting a sticker is not an immediate health emergency for most people, it's not without potential, albeit minor, concerns.

Digestibility: The sticker materials, whether paper or plastic, are not digestible. If swallowed, they will pass through your digestive system unchanged, similar to chewing gum.
Choking Hazard: For young children, the small size of the stickers can present a choking hazard, making it crucial for parents to remove them before giving fruit to their kids.
Microplastics: There is growing concern over microplastics, and while a single sticker poses minimal risk, regular ingestion of plastic is not recommended. The long-term effects of microplastic consumption are not yet fully understood, with research suggesting possible inflammatory or neurotoxic effects in animal studies.
Regulatory Limits: The FDA regulates these materials for indirect food contact. The safety evaluations assume minimal, incidental exposure, not repeated, intentional consumption. Some individuals with specific allergies to certain adhesives or chemicals could experience rare sensitivities.

Fruit Sticker Comparison: Traditional vs. Emerging Alternatives


Feature	Traditional PLU Sticker	Biodegradable/Compostable Sticker	Laser Etching
Material	Plastic or Paper with synthetic adhesive	Paper with a compostable adhesive	Surface pigment of fruit's skin
Environmental Impact	Creates plastic waste; not compostable	Reduces waste; breaks down in commercial compost	No waste; harmless to the fruit
Edibility	Not intended to be eaten; non-digestible	Often made from rice paper or starch, safe to eat	Edible, as it's part of the fruit's skin
Commercial Availability	Very common and widespread	Limited but growing; some regions have restrictions	Emerging technology; used by some progressive retailers

How to remove fruit stickers and residue

Before consuming your produce, the safest and cleanest practice is to remove the sticker and wash the fruit thoroughly. For stubborn adhesives, here are a few simple methods:

Warm Water Soak: Soaking the fruit in warm water can often help loosen the sticker and dissolve the adhesive.
Friction: Use your fingernail or a vegetable brush to gently scrub the area under running water to dislodge any remaining residue.
Oil: A small drop of cooking oil (like vegetable or coconut oil) can break down the adhesive, making it easier to wipe away.
Vinegar: A mild vinegar solution can also help weaken the glue for easier removal.

Conclusion: Peel before you eat

While the prospect of accidentally consuming a fruit sticker is not cause for alarm, the deliberate consumption of these non-nutritive and non-digestible items is certainly not recommended. The materials are approved for incidental food contact, not for intentional digestion. Beyond the immediate health considerations, there is also the environmental impact to consider; the majority of traditional PLU stickers are not biodegradable and contribute to plastic waste. As the food industry explores innovative and eco-friendlier alternatives like laser-etching, the best course of action for consumers remains consistent: always remove and discard the sticker, and wash your produce thoroughly before enjoying it. For more information on food safety standards, you can visit the official FDA website, which offers extensive resources on regulations concerning food packaging and contact materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you accidentally swallow a fruit sticker, you don't need to panic. The materials are non-toxic and non-digestible, meaning the sticker will simply pass through your digestive system without causing harm.

No, fruit stickers are not toxic. The adhesive, ink, and paper or plastic are all made from food-grade materials that have been approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA for use on produce.

Even though they are non-toxic, they are not intended to be eaten. They have no nutritional value and are not digestible, and regular, intentional consumption of plastic is not advised.

No. Organic fruit stickers, identified by a 5-digit PLU code starting with a '9', are also not edible. Like conventional stickers, they must be removed before eating.

While traditional stickers are not edible, some companies are developing alternatives like laser-etched logos or dissolvable labels made from rice paper or potato starch. These are not yet widespread.

Yes. Most traditional fruit stickers are not biodegradable or compostable. When fruit peels with stickers are added to compost, the plastic labels become a contaminant, creating microplastic pollution.

PLU stands for Price Look-Up code. It's a universal number assigned by the International Federation for Produce Standards to help retailers identify different types of bulk produce and their growing methods.