Frozen vegetables

Frozen vegetables are commercially packaged vegetables that are sold in the frozen section of the store, usually packaged in either rectangular boxes or plastic bags.

Common frozen vegetables found in supermarkets include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn, yam (in Asia), many others, and mixtures of these and other vegetables or other types of food, such as pasta or cheese. They may be cut or processed some other way into a shape or form that is convenient for cooking or eating, and sometimes seasoned.

Some popular brands include Birds Eye, Green Giant and [http://www.hanoverfoods.com/ Hanover] , though many supermarkets have their own store brands, too.

Frozen vegetables have some advantages over fresh ones, in that they are available when the fresh counterpart is out-of-season, they have a very long shelf life when kept in a freezer, and that they often have been processed a step or more closer to eating. In many cases, they may be more economical to purchase than their fresh counterparts. Since they are already cooked, and will likely be cooked more once they enter the household, they are believed to be more sanitary than fresh vegetables.

Some feel that frozen vegetables are inferior for various reasons.Fact|date=October 2007 Having been processed from their original form, they do not have the same taste as natural vegetables. Their uses in recipes are also more limited. Many are concernedFact|date=October 2007 that they may have lost nutrients through the processing, and may lose even more when cooked at home. Fact|date=March 2008

Health benefits and risks

In general, boiling vegetables can cause them to lose important nutrientsFact|date=October 2007, including vitamins Fact|date=October 2007 and those that prevent cancer. Fact|date=October 2007 In particular, Vitamins C and Folic acid are susceptible to loss during the commercial process.Fact|date=October 2007

Over the years, there has been controversy as to whether frozen vegetables are better or worse than fresh ones. Generally, reports show that frozen vegetables are not so much nutritionally different from fresh ones.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, based on a 1998 report, frozen vegetables have the same nutrients and health benefits as their fresh counterparts [ [http://www.healthcastle.com/veggies_fresh_frozen.shtml Fresh vs. Frozen? Choosing your fruits and vegetables ] ] . A 2003 Austrian study found that frozen vegetables are nutritionally better than out-of-season imported fresh ones [ [http://www.bfff.co.uk/frozenveg.htm Frozen Vegetables Often Healthier Than Fresh ] ] .

However, there have been some risks found with eating frozen vegetables. For example, a 2007 Australian study found that frozen vegetables may contain a bacterium called "map," which can thrive in both extreme cold and hot temperatures. In addition, it may also be responsible for Crohn's disease. [ [http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_8917.aspx CityNews: Do Frozen Vegetables Pose A Hazard For Your Kids? ] ]

Not all products classified as frozen vegetables can be viewed as health foods. On June 2, 2003, the USDA classified frozen French fries as a frozen vegetable [ [http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/frenchfries061604.cfm USDA Classifies Frozen Fries as "Fresh Vegetables" ] ] .

ee also

*Frozen food
*Canned food

External links

* [http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Frozen-Vegetable.html How Frozen Vegetables are Made]
* [http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/Food_Facts/FAQ/frozen_freshveg_faq.asp Nutrition Australia - How nutritious are commercially-frozen vegetables compared to fresh vegetables?]

References