1. Selected nutrient analyses of fresh, fresh-stored, and frozen fruits and vegetables
- Author
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Linshan Li, Adrian L. Kerrihard, Jiyeon Chun, Ronald B. Pegg, and Ronald R. Eitenmiller
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Vitamin ,030109 nutrition & dietetics ,Vitamin C ,010401 analytical chemistry ,food and beverages ,Food composition data ,01 natural sciences ,Fresh food ,Food Analysis ,0104 chemical sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Nutrient ,chemistry ,Fruits and vegetables ,Green peas ,Food science ,Food Science - Abstract
This two-year study compared the status of targeted nutrients in selected fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. In addition, a novel third category was examined—a “fresh-stored” categorization intended to mimic typical consumer storage patterns of produce following purchase (five days of refrigeration). Broccoli, cauliflower, corn, green beans, green peas, spinach, blueberries, and strawberries of all three categories of freshness were analyzed for their concentrations of l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), trans-β-carotene (provitamin A), and total folate. Analyses were performed in triplicate on representative samples using standardized analytical methods and included a quality control plan for each nutrient. In the majority of comparisons between nutrients within the categories of fresh, frozen, and “fresh-stored”, the findings showed no significant differences in assessed vitamin contents. In the cases of significant differences, frozen produce outperformed “fresh-stored” more frequently than “fresh-stored” outperformed frozen. When considering the refrigerated storage to which consumers may expose their fresh produce prior to consumption, the findings of this study do not support the common belief of consumers that fresh food has significantly greater nutritional value than its frozen counterpart.
- Published
- 2017
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