Guest guest Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Published July 19. 2005 6:01AM *Tired of Prying Off Stickers? Tattooed Fruit Is on the Way* By JULIA MOSKIN New York Times A pear is just a pear, except when it is also a laser-coded information delivery system with advanced security clearance. And that is what pears - not to mention organic apples, waxy cucumbers and delicate peaches - are becoming in some supermarkets around the country. A new technology being used by produce distributors employs lasers to tattoo fruits and vegetables with their names, identifying numbers, countries of origin and other information that helps speed distribution. The marks are burned onto the outer layer of the skin and are visible to discerning consumers and befuddled cashiers alike. The process, government approved and called safe by the industry, may sound sinister. But it was designed with the consumer in mind: laser coding could mean the end of those tiny stubborn stickers that have to be picked, scraped or yanked off produce. Sticker-removal duty took Jean Lemeaux of Clarksville, Tex., half an hour one day last week. " I was picking all the little stickers from the Piggly Wiggly off my plums and my avocado pears and my peaches, " said Ms. Lemeaux, 76. " Then I had to make fruit salad out of the ones that got hurt when I took the stickers off, and then I had to wash the glue off the other ones before I put them in the fruit bowl. " " One time, " she said, " I got up the next morning and looked in the mirror and there were two of them up in my hair. " (The rest of the article can be found at the link below....) *http://tinyurl.com/8evv8* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 > *http://tinyurl.com/8evv8* Darn, it wouldn't connect.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 , subprong <subprong@g...> wrote: > Published July 19. 2005 6:01AM > > *Tired of Prying Off Stickers? Tattooed Fruit Is on the Way* > > > By JULIA MOSKIN > New York Times The marks are > burned onto the outer layer of the skin and are visible to discerning > consumers and befuddled cashiers alike. said Ms. Lemeaux, 76. " Then I had to > make fruit salad out of the ones that got hurt when I took the stickers off, So burning the outer layer of a delicate fruit such as a plum won't damage it? Come on, this is so bogus! Does it take the majority of people that long to take stickers off fruit? And what type of ink are they using anyhow? Do you really think they will allow organic produce to have this " tattoo " technology used on it? Hmmm, I'm feeling very synical today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 > So burning the outer layer of a delicate fruit such as a plum won't > damage it? Come on, this is so bogus! Does it take the majority of > people that long to take stickers off fruit? And what type of ink are > they using anyhow? > Do you really think they will allow organic produce to have this > " tattoo " technology used on it? I don't think they're using ink, but I couldn't get to the rest of the article. Have you seen the decorative ornaments people sell at craft shows, where they've burned a design through a thin piece of wood? That's what I was envisioning. And OTOH, using a laser (assuming a lot here) that doesn't " cut " too deeply, would certainly save on making all those stickers, and the glue to stick them with, so it might be a good thing. I would be a little concerned though, if it cuts too much, and bacteria can get in? Just trying to figure out all the sides.... *hugs* Amy/C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Sorry, Amy, it works on this end. Try the link down at the bottom of this page (I hope it doesn't wrap). The article was kinda long and I didn't want to fill inboxes for those that weren't interested in reading it. How in the heck did that lady get stickers in her hair!! Anywho, the most difficult stickers, imo, are the ones on tomatoes. I can't seem to get those buggers off without, either, tearing the skin or cutting out the skin and some of the fruit. On 7/20/05, Amy <sandpiperhiker wrote: > > > *http://tinyurl.com/8evv8* > > Darn, it wouldn't connect.... http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/ZNYT05/507190352\ /1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 > Sorry, Amy, it works on this end. Try the link down at the bottom of > this page (I hope it doesn't wrap). The article was kinda long and I > didn't want to fill inboxes for those that weren't interested in >reading it. That one worked; thanks! :-) I was a little shocked at the mention of selling advertising space though! > How in the heck did that lady get stickers in her hair!! That I dunno.... > Anywho, the most difficult stickers, imo, are the ones on tomatoes. I > can't seem to get those buggers off without, either, tearing the skin > or cutting out the skin and some of the fruit. FOr me it's pears. If they're ripe enough to eat, they're soft and peeling the sticker peels a strip of skin off too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.