Clear packaging and light -- not so good for potatoes, but enhances nutrients in spinach

Potatoes turn green when exposed to light, even the artificial light in a supermarket produce department. Clear packaging is usually not the best choice for spuds. Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry by Lester, Makus and Hodges (2010) shows just the opposite for spinach. Vitamins C, K, E, and folate increased significantly in spinach leaves stored in clear plastic containers for 3 days under continuous light and refrigeration simulating supermarket conditions, while those stored in continuous darkness showed declining or no change in levels of nutrients. After 9 days in the lighted storage, some vitamins levels had doubled, and all had higher levels of bioactive compounds.
Rick VanVranken
References:   

• King, A. G. 2010. Research Advances: Spinach Nutrient Levels; Steering Oil Droplets; Possible Explanation of Left-Handed Preference? J. Chem. Educ., 2010, 87 (8), pp 766–769
• Lester, G. E., D. J. Makus and D. M. Hodges. 2010. Relationship between Fresh-Packaged Spinach Leaves Exposed to Continuous Light or Dark and Bioactive Contents: Effects of Cultivar, Leaf Size, and Storage DurationJ. Agric. Food Chem., 2010, 58 (5), pp 2980–2987.

 

Birds Eye on a mission

Birds Eye® Declares "It's Always Vegetable Season™" and Unveils Its "Discover the Wonder of Vegetables™" Campaign

Top Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Cornell Researcher Dr. Brian Wansink and Share Our Strength® Join Birds Eye for Its Vegetable Snow Farm in Union Square to Announce a Donation Commitment of Vegetables for 1 Million Meals to Help Feed Kids Better

By Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Published: Thursday, Sep. 15, 2011 - 4:08 am

MOUNTAIN LAKES, N.J., Sept. 15, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Birds Eye®, a portfolio brand of Pinnacle Foods Group, is on a mission to help America "Discover the Wonder of Vegetables™" and announced today the launch of its new campaign with a kick-off event in New York City's Union Square, featuring an unexpected vegetable farm in the snow.

Read the entire story at: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/15/3912105/birds-eye-declares-its-always.html