Consumer Reports - Test Results for Frozen Produce

Consumer Reports released their testing results of frozen produce.  Nothing special to report regarding pathogens or nutrient quality.  Their testing did not yield any pathogenic bacteria.  Which we would generally expect.   From a nutrient perspective, they found that frozen is generally comparable to fresh.

That being said, it is always important to follow proper handling and preparation procedures.  From time to time, we can encounter contamination issues, such as with Listeria.  While the study did not look for viruses or parasites, and although a low risk, these too have been found.  https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/foodborneoutbreaks.html

https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/are-frozen-fruits-and-vegetables-healthy-and-safe-a1002196402/
Are Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Healthy and Safe?
CR tested more than 300 samples of frozen produce for bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness

"For our tests, we looked for E. coli, listeria, and salmonella, types of bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness, in eight frozen categories—avocado, berries, corn, mangoes, peaches, pineapple, spinach, and smoothie mixes. In total, we included 369 items from big brands, private label, and store brands, including 365 by Whole Foods, Blendtopia, Birds Eye, Campoverde, Dole, Great Value, O Organics, and Trader Joe’s."

"The results were reassuring. “We didn’t detect bacteria that could make someone ill,” Mujahid says. “We consider frozen fruits and vegetables to be low-risk in general, though people at high risk for foodborne illness may always want to take certain precautions.”"

"Frozen also is comparable to fresh nutritionally. “Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients—and that doesn’t change when they are frozen,” says Amy Keating, RD, a CR nutritionist. “Consumers should buy what is available, and fits their storage needs and their budget, and not worry about any variability in fresh vs. frozen.”"

"Nutrient levels can be affected by a number of factors, including how fruit and vegetables are grown and how long they spend in storage before being sold. Because produce is frozen close to harvest, it may in some cases maintain its nutritional profile longer than fresh fruits and veggies that can lose vitamins on the journey to the grocery aisle and then while stored in your fridge."

"Research has generally found that the nutritional differences between fresh and frozen produce are small. In one 2015 study, researchers compared the level of four nutrients in eight types of fresh and frozen produce and found that in some cases, frozen versions of a food had higher vitamin levels. Another study, from 2017, that looked at a form of vitamin C, provitamin A, and total folate in eight fruits and veggies found that for the most part, vitamin levels in frozen produce were similar to those in fresh produce. And frozen versions were actually better than fresh items that had been stored in a refrigerator for five days."