05.16.12
Michigan State University (MSU) has released a study underscoring the pivotal role of canned foods in the helping address the fight against obesity.
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.
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. The results created a reminder of the many good reasons why it’s time to revisit what's on the S.H.E.L.F.
According to MSU, canned foods are not only tasty, they are:
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.
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. The results created a reminder of the many good reasons why it’s time to revisit what's on the S.H.E.L.F.
According to MSU, canned foods are not only tasty, they are:
- S – Safe: According to the CDC, at least 128,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with foodborne illnesses. The MSU analysis concluded canned foods are a safer option for produce thanks in part to the canning process that creates a barrier to microbiological contamination.
- H – Healthy: The study underscored that nutritionally, canned foods are on par with and in some cases better than fresh and frozen. In fact, canning tomatoes improves the B vitamins, vitamin E and carotenoid content. Fiber, a nutrient of concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, becomes more soluble and therefore more useful in the human body, in the canning process.
- E – Ease of preparation: Canned fruits and vegetables are convenient to prepare and incorporate into meals or on their own. They are not subject to seasonality or refrigeration requirements, also making them easily accessible to all – from corner convenience stores to supermarkets.
- L – Thanks to their long shelf life, canned foods are perfect staples to stock up and have on hand anytime. USDA reports Americans waste 25% of their fresh produce each year, and with 23.5 million people living in areas known as “food deserts” with little or no accessibility to nutritious foods, canned fruits and vegetables provide a smart shelf-stable option for families.
- F – Financial benefits: Canned foods stretch hard-earned dollars, saving up to half the cost of frozen and 20% of the cost of fresh. For example, fresh green beans are estimated at 500% more costly than canned.
