Canned food can do you good, study shows

Canned food has received the tick of approval after an analysis of more than 40 scientific studies found that canned foods are a nutritious, affordable and safe way to help people increase their fruit and vegetable intake, regardless of geography or income level.

The study, conducted by Michigan State University (MSU) found that canned fruits and vegetables are as nutritious - if not more so - than their fresh and frozen equivalents. Canned tomatoes reportedly have more lycopene, which may reduce cancer risk, and more B vitamins than fresh tomatoes. Canning also helps make the fibre in some vegetables such as beans more soluble, and therefore more useful to the human body.

The study also found that canned produce is a good way for families to stretch their grocery budgets without sacrificing nutritional quality.

The high-heat canning process is one of the safest processes for preserving food because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause foodborne illness, the study authors wrote.

“Canned fruits and vegetables provide high-quality nutrition to Americans regardless of income level and geography,” said Steven Miller, PhD, lead researcher and assistant professor at MSU’s Center for Economic Analysis.

“By increasing accessibility to key nutrients many Americans need, canned foods are a year-round solution to help families prepare healthier, balanced meals.”

The study, “Nutrition and Cost Comparisons of Select Canned, Frozen and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”, was published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. The study was commissioned by the US Can Manufacturers Institute.

Additional study highlights can be found at www.cancentral.com/food-cans/msu-canned-food-study and ajl.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/02/26/1559827614522942.abstract.