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CHARTS: Nutrient Changes in Vegetables and Fruits, 1951 to 1999
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Compiled by Jeffrey Christian for CTV News
Date: Friday Jul. 5, 2002 5:32 PM ET
The following tables and charts show the changes that have occurred in levels of certain vitamins and trace minerals in our food supply over 50 years.
The tables were constructed following the lead of researchers in the United States and the United Kingdom. These studies have for the most part been done independently of each other. The results would seem to indicate the same occurrences in different geographic areas.
All the American and British studies followed the same basic method. Researchers would take nutrients tables as published from different time periods and compare the levels of vitamins and minerals for a given food at a given weight. This analysis uses Canadian tables as printed in 1951 and 1999 and compared the nutrients available from 100 grams of the given food type.
Wherever possible I compared raw, edible portions of the food (uncooked and unprocessed). Squash, corn and peas are the exceptions: Squash is listed only as cubed and baked, corn as boiled and drained and peas as solids from a drained can.
The 1951 tables are all based on 100 grams of edible food product. Later tables have inconsistent weights. To maintain consistency 100 grams is used as a base. For later values the weight listed (e.g. 87 grams) is multiplied by an equivalency factor (100g\87g*x) where x is the value of the nutrient measured). All listings in the table then are based on 100 g weights. The conversion factors are listed as comments in the electronic version.
All numbers in the chart have been rounded to two decimal places to maintain simplicity.
To flesh out the results, food tables from 1972 were added to see if the changes were consistent over the time period. While the additional tables aren't entirely consistent, they show a steady fluctuation in the nutrient value of foods. The 1972 table values generally show up in between the 1951 and 1999 tables. The bottom row, % Change, refers to total change from 1951 to 1999.
Apple, raw with skin (7 cm diameter), 138 g., 100/138=0.72
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 6.00 | 0.30 | 90.00 | 5.00 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| 1972 | 5.33 | 0.27 | 3.33 | 2.00 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| 1999 | 7.20 | 0.14 | 53.00 | 5.80 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| % Change | 20.00 | -53.33 | -41.11 | 16.00 | -75.00 | -66.67 | -30.00 |
Banana, one medium raw, 115 g. 100/115=0.87
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 8.00 | 0.60 | 430.00 | 10.00 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.70 |
| 1972 | 5.71 | 0.46 | 131.43 | 6.86 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.46 |
| 1999 | 6.10 | 0.35 | 81.00 | 8.70 | 0.04 | 0.10 | 0.69 |
| % Change | -23.75 | -41.67 | -81.16 | -13.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 | -1.43 |
Blueberries, raw, 77g. 100/77=1.3
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 16.00 | 0.80 | 280.00 | 10.00 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 1972 | 15.00 | 1.00 | 100.00 | 14.29 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.43 |
| 1999 | 6.50 | 0.13 | 100.10 | 13.00 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.39 |
| % Change | -59.38 | -83.75 | -64.25 | 30.00 | 160.00 | 160.00 | 30.00 |
Broccoli, Raw, 3 spears, 93g. 100/93=1.08
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 130.00 | 1.30 | 3500.00 | 104.00 | 0.10 | 0.21 | 1.10 |
| 1972 | 87.78 | 0.78 | 2500.00 | 90.00 | 0.09 | 0.20 | 0.78 |
| 1999 | 48.30 | 0.86 | 1542.00 | 93.50 | 0.06 | 0.12 | 1.07 |
| % Change |
-62.85 | -33.85 | -55.94 | -10.10 | -40.00 | -42.86 | -2.73 |
Carrots, one medium, raw, 80g. 100/80=1.25
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 39.00 | 0.80 | 12000.00 |
6.00 |
0.06 | 0.06 | 0.50 |
| 1972 | 36.00 | 0.80 | 11000.00 | 8.00 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| 1999 | 27.50 | 0.50 | 28305.00 | 8.80 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 1.13 |
| % Change |
-29.49 | -37.50 | 135.88 | 46.67 | 66.67 | 0.00 | 126.00 |
Cauliflower, raw pieces, 106g. 100/106=.94
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 22.00 | 1.10 | 90.00 | 69.00 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| 1972 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | 21.70 | 0.47 | 18.90 | 46.20 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.94 |
| % Change |
-1.36 | -57.27 | -79.00 | -33.04 | -45.45 | -30.00 | 56.67 |
Celery, one stalk, raw, 40g. 100/40=2.5
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 50.00 | 0.50 | 1000.00 | 7.00 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.40 |
| 1972 | 40.00 | 0.25 | 100.00 | 10.00 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.25 |
| 1999 | 40.00 | 0.50 | 135.00 | 7.50 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.50 |
| % Change |
-20.00 | 0.00 | -86.50 | 7.14 | 0.00 | 25.00 | 25.00 |
Cherries, raw, 10 cherries, 68g. 100/68=1.47
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 18.00 | 0.40 | 620.00 | 8.00 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.40 |
| 1972 | 14.80 | 0.28 | 664.00 | 4.80 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| 1999 | 14.70 | 0.44 | 214.62 | 7.35 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.59 |
| % Change |
-18.33 | 10.25 | -65.38 | -8.13 | -11.80 | 0.00 | 47.00 |
Corn, one ear of corn on or off cob, boiled and drained, 121g. 100/121=.83
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 4.00 | 0.40 | 150.00 | 5.00 | 0.02 | 0.04 |
0.90 |
| 1972 | 1.43 | 0.36 | 221.43 | 5.00 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.71 |
| 1999 | 5.40 | 0.45 | 240.00 | 5.40 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 1.44 |
| % Change |
35.00 | 12.50 | 60.00 | 8.00 | 125.00 | 80.00 | 60.00 |
Cranberries, raw 50g. 100/50=2
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 14.00 | 0.60 | 40.00 | 14.00 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| 1972 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | 8.00 | 0.20 | 46.00 | 14.00 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| % Change |
-42.86 |
-66.67 |
15.00 | 0.00 | 33.33 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
Cucumbers, one, sliced and peeled, 110g. 100/110=.91
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 10.00 | 0.30 | n/a | 8.00 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| 1972 | 16.00 | 0.40 | n/a | 12.00 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| 1999 | 13.65 | 0.27 | 215.00 | 5.46 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.27 |
| % Change |
36.50 | -10.00 | n/a | -31.75 | 0.00 | -50.00 | 35.00 |
Grapes, 10 grapes, raw, 50g.100/50=2
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 17.00 | 0.60 | 80.00 | 4.00 | 0.06 | 0.04 |
0.20 |
| 1972 | 9.80 | 0.26 | 65.36 | 1.96 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.13 |
| 1999 | 12.00 | 0.20 | 72.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.40 |
| % Change |
-29.41 |
-66.67 |
-10.00 | 150.00 | 66.67 | 50.00 | 100.00 |
Green peppers, one pepper, raw, seeded, 164g. 100/164= .61
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 11.00 | 0.40 | 630.00 | 120.00 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
0.40 |
| 1972 | 9.46 | 0.68 | 418.92 | 127.03 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.54 |
| 1999 | 9.15 | 0.49 | 631.96 | 89.00 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| % Change |
-16.82 |
22.50 |
0.31 | -25.83 | 75.00 | -57.14 | 67.50 |
Lettuce, iceberg, chopped, 59g. 100/59=1.69
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 22.00 | 0.50 | 540.00 | 5.00 | 0.04 | 0.08 |
0.20 |
| 1972 | 20.04 | 0.51 | 330.40 | 6.39 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.29 |
| 1999 | 19.00 | 0.50 | 330.00 | 3.30 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| % Change |
-13.64 | 0.00 | -38.89 | -34.00 | 25.00 | -62.50 | 50.00 |
Onions, chopped, raw, 85g. 100/85=1.18
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 32.00 | 0.50 | 50.00 | 13.00 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| 1972 | 27.27 | 0.55 | 36.36 | 10.00 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.18 |
| 1999 | 20.06 | 0.24 | 0.00 | 5.90 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.47 |
| % Change |
-37.31 |
-52.80 |
-100.0 | -54.62 | 57.33 | -41.00 | 136.00 |
Oranges, one orange, raw, 131g. 100/131=.76
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 33.00 | 0.40 | 1900.00 | 49.00 | 0.08 | 0.03 |
0.20 |
| 1972 | 30.00 | 0.28 | 144.44 | 36.67 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.28 |
| 1999 | 39.50 | 0.08 | 204.00 | 53.20 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.50 |
| % Change |
19.70 |
-80.00 |
-89.26 | 8.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 150.00 |
Peaches, one peach, raw, 87g. 100/87=1.15
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 8.00 | 0.60 | 1400.00 | 7.00 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.90 |
| 1972 | 7.89 | 0.44 | 1157.89 | 6.14 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.88 |
| 1999 | 4.60 | 0.10 | 53.00 | 7.00 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 1.00 |
| % Change |
-42.50 | -83.33 | -96.21 | 0.00 | -75.00 | 25.00 | 11.11 |
Peas, canned, drained solids, 90g. 100/90=1.11
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 32.00 | 2.10 | 670.00 | 9.00 | 0.12 | 0.06 |
1.00 |
| 1972 | 23.57 | 2.07 | 635.71 | 8.57 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 1.07 |
| 1999 | 19.98 | 1.00 | 765.90 | 9.99 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 1.22 |
| % Change |
-37.56 |
-52.43 |
14.31 | 11.00 | 0.00 | 29.50 | 22.10 |
Pears, one pear, raw with skin, 169g. 100/169=.59
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 13.00 | 0.30 | 20.00 | 4.00 | 0.02 | 0.04 |
0.10 |
| 1972 | 7.14 | 0.27 | 16.48 | 3.85 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| 1999 | 11.20 | 0.02 | 20.00 | 4.10 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| % Change |
-13.85 |
-93.33 |
0.00 | 2.50 | -50.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
Potatoes, one potato, peeled before boiling, 136g. 100/136=.74
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 11.00 | 0.70 | 20.00 | 17.00 | 0.11 | 0.04 |
1.20 |
| 1972 | 5.74 | 0.49 | 0.00 | 16.39 | 0.09 | 0.03 | 1.15 |
| 1999 | 7.97 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 7.25 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 1.74 |
| % Change |
-27.55 |
-57.14 |
-100 | -57.35 | -18.18 | -50.00 | 45.00 |
Red pepper, one, seeded, 164g. 100/164=.61
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 11.00 | 0.40 | 2000.00 | 125.00 | 0.07 | 0.04 |
0.40 |
| 1972 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | 9.15 | 0.49 | 5702.00 | 190.00 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| % Change |
-16.82 |
22.50 |
185.10 | 52.00 | 0.00 | -25.00 | 67.50 |
Spinach, chopped, raw, 59g. 100/59=1.7
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 81.00 | 3.00 | 9420.00 | 59.00 | 0.11 | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| 1972 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | 99.71 | 2.70 | 6714.37 | 28.73 | 0.08 | 0.19 | 1.35 |
| % Change |
23.10 | -9.87 | -28.72 | -51.31 | -23.18 | -7.05 | 125.33 |
Squash, winter squash, cubed and baked, 108g. 100/108=.93
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 34.00 | 0.60 | 4950.00 | 8.00 | 0.05 | 0.12 |
0.50 |
| 1972 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | 14.00 | 0.40 | 3582.36 | 9.30 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.93 |
| % Change |
-58.82 | -33.33 | -27.63 | 16.25 | 60.00 | -75.00 | 86.00 |
Strawberries, five medium strawberries raw, 60g. 100/60=1.67
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 28.00 | 0.80 | 60.00 | 60.00 | 0.03 | 0.07 |
0.30 |
| 1972 | 20.81 | 1.01 | 60.40 | 59.06 | 0.00 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 1999 | 13.30 | 0.30 | 26.70 | 57.00 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 0.30 |
| % Change |
-52.50 | -62.50 | -55.50 | -5.00 | -33.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Tomato, one, raw, 6.6 cm diameter, 123g. 100/123=.81
| Calcium(mg) | Iron (mg) |
Vitamin A (I.U.) | Vitamin C (mg) | Thiamine(mg) | Riboflavin (mg) | Nicacin(mg) | |
| 1951 | 11.00 | 0.60 | 1100.00 | 19.00 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| 1972 | 13.33 | 0.53 | 900.00 | 22.67 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.67 |
| 1999 | 4.88 | 0.49 | 623.00 | 18.70 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.73 |
| % Change |
-55.64 | -18.33 | -43.36 | -1.58 | 0.00 | 25.00 | 46.00 |
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