Frozen peas higher in nutrients than sweet corn, says consumer watchdog

The Consumer Council said on Thursday that the average vitamin C and beta-carotene contents in frozen peas were significantly higher than that of sweet corn, after testing 24 samples of prepackaged frozen sweet corn and peas on the market.

The watchdog also reminded consumers that the longer the cooking and storage time, the more vitamin C would be lost in the process.

According to the council, beta-carotene can be converted into vitamin A in the human body, which helps to maintain the normal functioning of the optic system, integrity of epithelial cells, immunity, and reproductive functions.

Based on the council’s test, there is over a six-fold difference when comparing both the frozen peas and sweet corn samples with the highest beta-carotene content, whereas the total dietary fiber content between the two - each with the highest content - shows a difference of about 75 percent.

Meanwhile, the watchdog said among the 24 samples, 17 were detected with trace levels of metallic contaminants such as lead, cadmium, or chromium, of which four were from sweet corn samples and 13 from pea samples. Among them, one sweet corn sample was found to contain all three metallic contaminants mentioned above.

However, all samples did not exceed limits set out in relevant local regulations, the watchdog added.