Light affects nutrients Sound Consumer | March 2012 So you think
you’re getting the most nutritious, best produce by reaching to
the back of the produce shelves, or by digging to the bottom of
a pile on the dry racks? Think again. A study by U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) scientists suggests consumers may wish to
look instead for fruits and vegetables receiving the greatest
exposure to light — usually found closest to the front or top of
a display. Researchers found that spinach leaves, for instance,
exposed to continuous light during storage were more
nutritionally dense than leaves continually in the dark. The
researchers say light affects the leaves’ photosynthetic system,
resulting in a significant increase in levels of carotenoids and
vitamins C, E, K and B9 (folate).