How does the canning process affect the nutrients in fruits and vegetables?
There is no doubt that the cooking of produce involved in the canning process leads to nutrient loss in fruits and veggies. But the extent of the nutrient loss is a hotly debated topic. A widely quoted report published in 1997 by the University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition found the nutritive quality of canned produce to be comparable to that of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. The research was carried out on behalf of the Steel Packaging Council of the American Iron and Steel Institute, a part of the canning industry (which, of course, may make one a little skeptical of the results). However, the findings did seem to suggest that, although some vitamin loss occurs during the canning process, there may be some positives to consuming canned produce. This is a view supported by the American Institute for Cancer Research. The University of Illinois report stated that The fibre content of fruits and veggies is unaffected by the canning process. In fact,
There is no doubt that the cooking of produce involved in the canning process leads to nutrient loss in fruits and veggies. But the extent of the nutrient loss is a hotly debated topic. A widely quoted report published in 1997 by the University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition found the nutritive quality of canned produce to be comparable to that of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. The research was carried out on behalf of the Steel Packaging Council of the American Iron and Steel Institute, a part of the canning industry (which, of course, may make one a little skeptical of the results). However, the findings did seem to suggest that, although some vitamin loss occurs during the canning process, there may be some positives to consuming canned produce. This is a view supported by the American Institute for Cancer Research. The University of Illinois report stated that The fibre content of fruits and veggies is unaffected by the canning process. In fact,
