Americans Switch From Fresh to Frozen Potatoes
Jean
Buzby and Hodan
Farah
While potatoes have been a mainstay
of the American diet for generations, how potatoes
are eaten has changed dramatically. In 1960, Americans
consumed a yearly average of 81 pounds of fresh
potatoes and 7.6 pounds of frozen potatoes, according
to ERS’s per capita food availability data,
a widely used proxy for actual food intake. In 2004,
the average American consumed 46.5 pounds of fresh
potatoes and 56.4 pounds of frozen potatoes, mostly
french fries. Consumption of potato chips and canned
and dehydrated potatoes has remained fairly constant
at lower levels.
What has caused the switch from
fresh to frozen potatoes? Taste, convenience, technology,
and the growing food-away-from-home market all play
a role. French fries first became popular in the
U.S. when American soldiers stationed in France
and Belgium during World War I wanted to continue
eating them once they returned home. At first, fresh
potatoes were hand peeled, cut into strips, and
fried or baked at home or in restaurants.
In the early 1950s, the J.R. Simplot
Company developed the frozen french fry—a
product that was perfectly suited for the quick
preparation needed for the expanding fast food industry.
Other innovations, such as curing the potatoes for
3 weeks before frying, improved french fry consistency
and quality. Since then, consumption of frozen potatoes
has continued to rise, and in 1993, frozen potato
consumption exceeded fresh. Almost 90 percent of
U.S. french fries were sold to fast food and other
restaurants in 2002, according to the American Frozen
Food Institute.
The 2005
Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating
2½ cups of vegetables per day for a 2,000-calorie
diet, choosing a variety of types of vegetables.
In 2004, Americans ate an average of 2 cups of vegetables
per day, about 20 percent below recommendations.
Variety may be even more of an issue. Potatoes accounted
for roughly one-fourth of this amount.
The shift from fresh potatoes
to frozen fries poses a dietary challenge for Americans
trying to keep their daily intake of calories and
fat within dietary recommendations. A 100-gram baked
Russet potato with skin has 97 calories and almost
no fat, while 100 grams of french fries has over
300 calories and 16 grams of fat. Of course, the
dietary impacts of adding sour cream, cheese, bacon,
and other condiments need to be considered as well.
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