UNL Food Processing Center studies nutritional value of frozen foods

With obesity on the rise, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Food Processing Center is doing its part in researching how to help people live healthier lives.

The center is helping the Frozen Food Foundation complete the first phase of its nutrition project.

UNL will help determine the nutritional value of frozen fruits and vegetables, said Elise Cortina, director of Public and Industry Affiliates for the American Frozen Food Institute, and spokesperson for the foundation.

The project will focus on comparing the nutritional value of frozen fruits and vegetables to raw fruits and vegetables.

"They will have a literary review of what is out there in the public domain or scholarly journals or scientific journals," she said.

"They will look at them, find out what is available and help us identify what research options are available."

For instance, she said, research could identify specific fruits or vegetables there isn’t a lot of particular information on.

The literature research is expected to be completed by April 2010. Cortina said the foundation will then complete the next phase of their nutrition plan, which has no timeline at this moment.

UNL is the only university or college to work with the foundation on the nutrition project.

"We were solicited with proposals from universities and other institutions," Cortina said.

The Board of Directors at the foundation felt that UNL had tremendous expertise, she added.

"It seemed to be a combination of experience of Dr. (Gayaneh) Kyureghian (a research assistant professor at the Food Processing Center) and her team," Cortina said, "and the time frame it was to be completed was consistent (with ours)."

The foundation is excited to be working with Kyureghian and her team, she said.

The Frozen Food Foundation is a part of the American Frozen Food Institute. The institute is comprised of members who are producers of frozen food, from prepared entrees and meals to frozen fruits and vegetables.

Cortina said the foundation exists to promote advancement of the frozen food industry of the country through scientific research.

In a press release, Kyureghian said, "We are beginning our work immediately and look forward to delivering our results in the coming year."

KIMBUCKLEY@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM