A Nutritional Comparison of
Canned, Fresh and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
UC Davis Study Published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines urge Americans to increase their fruit and vegetable intake regardless of type (fresh, frozen, canned and dried), yet Americans are far from meeting fruit and vegetable goals. Exclusively recommending one form of fruits or vegetables over another ignores the benefits that each form provides and limits consumer choice.
Watch the study's author, Christine Bruhn, discuss the ramifications as they pertain to both nutrition education and legislative discourse:
Click here to view and download* this video file with Windows Media Player (for PC users)
Click here to view and download* this video file with QuickTime (for Mac users)
*It is recommended that those with slower Internet connections choose to "Save" the file, rather than "Open" it when prompted.Specific Key Study Findings Include:
- A diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Fresh, frozen and canned each contain important nutrients and contribute to a healthy diet.
- For some nutrients canned products were higher than fresh.
- By the time food is consumed, fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables may be nutritionally similar.
Canned
- The canning process locks in nutrients at their peak of freshness and due to the lack of oxygen during the storage period, canned fruits and vegetables remain relatively stable up until the time they are consumed and have a longer shelf-life.
Fresh
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables as soon as possible. Some fresh vegetable, such as spinach and green beans, lose up to 75% of their vitamin C within 7 days of harvest, even when held at the recommended refrigerator temperature.
Frozen
- Frozen products are also packed at their peak of freshness. Frozen fruits and vegetables may be more nutritious in some cases if stored for short periods of time under well-controlled temperatures.
About the Study
- The study was conducted by the University of California Davis.
- The study was published by the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
- The study was funded by the Canned Food Alliance.
University of California-Davis Study "Nutritional Comparison of Fresh, Frozen and Canned Fruits and Vegetables" Part 1, Part 2 (PDF format)
To download the study's summarized fact sheet, click here.
To download University of California-Davis study executive summary, click here.
