Nutrition Differences Canned Foods Vs. Fresh Produce

Popular opinion suggests that fresh produce provides the most nutrients and health benefits over canned foods. However, closer study reveals that this actually may not be the case.

Fresh Produce

• What is referred to as "fresh" produce may not be as fresh as it appears. Once a fruit or vegetable is picked, it undergoes a process of storing and shipping where it loses a significant percent of its nutritional value.

Canned Produce

• Canned produce, on the other hand, is generally packaged only hours after it has been picked. The canning process requires high temperatures that preserve the vast majority of the food's nutrients. The Food and Drug Administration states that "[w]hen produce is handled properly and canned quickly after harvest, it can be more nutritious than fresh produce sold in stores."

Nutrients Lost in the Canning Process

• That said, there are a few minor drawbacks to purchasing canned goods over fresh. One study done by students at the University of California showed that canned produce experiences a significant loss in thiamin, B6 and riboflavin, three essential B vitamins.

Sodium Levels

• In addition to this, canned food is notorious for its relatively high sodium content. However, fresh frozen fruits and vegetables provide nutritional value comparable to canned food, without the high levels of sodium

Conclusions

• Of course, fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the garden or local farmer's market remain the most nutritional of all produce options. But for those without the time or means to grow produce, canned or frozen products may be worth considering.