Frozen, Canned Produce Matches Fresh Nutrition as Australians Target 2 Fruit and 5 Vegetable Serves
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
Frozen, Canned Produce Matches Fresh Nutrition as Australians Target 2 Fruit and 5 Vegetable Serves
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
Summary
Research cited in the report says frozen and canned fruit and vegetables generally retain nutrition comparable to fresh produce, and Australia’s dietary guide counts them toward the daily target.
Two fruit serves and five vegetable serves a day are recommended for adults, with examples including ½ cup frozen broccoli or canned beans as one vegetable serve.
Cheaper prices, longer shelf life and less spoilage make frozen and canned options attractive during a cost-of-living squeeze, while pre-chopped products also cut preparation time.
Vitamin C and other water-soluble nutrients can fall during canning, and freezing can damage texture if food is thawed and refrozen; cooking frozen produce also lowers Listeria risk.
Labels matter most for buyers: choose canned vegetables with no added salt or lower sodium, and canned fruit in juice rather than syrup; dried fruit is not advised as an everyday substitute.