05.31.12
Michigan State University (MSU) has released a study underscoring the pivotal role of canned foods in the helping address the fight against obesity. The MSU study, “Nutrition and Cost Comparisons of Select Canned, Frozen and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,” analyzed more than 40 scientific journal studies and nutrition data, comparing canned fruits and vegetables to fresh and frozen based on nutrition and cost. With continued emphasis on the importance of increasing fruit and vegetable intake, canned foods provide great tasting, affordable options to conveniently incorporate fruits and vegetables into the daily diet. The study revealed that canned fruits and vegetables are comparable nutritionally to fresh and frozen, and in some instances, canned options bring a nutritional advantage to the table. The analysis also showed that the cost of canned vegetables can be as low as 50% of the costs of frozen alternatives and 20% of the cost of fresh, with virtually no sacrifices in nutritional quality.