Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know!

Posted Sun July 26, 2009 9:28 pm, by Angela N. written to Target Corporation

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I have noticed what must be an error in your nutritional information in one of Target's Market Pantry products.

I eat one to two cups of blackberries every day. I buy them frozen year-round because that's that the most economical way to buy them. Tonight, I have two bags of frozen blackberries in my freezer: Market Pantry and Dole. (I use them to flavor Dannon's fat-free, low-calorie vanilla yogurt -- I'm not a dairy fan, and the blackberries make the yogurt MUCH more enjoyable, so they help me get the calcium I need.)

Tonight while updating my nutrition spreadsheet, I looked at the nutrition table on the Market Pantry package and saw that it said that one cup of blackberries contains 4% of the RDA of Vitamin C. When I noticed that, it didn't seem right--blackberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C. I checked the Dole bag, which indicated that a cup of blackberries contains 60% of the RDA of Vitamin C. My nutrition book says that one cup of blackberries contains 50%.

A quick search through a couple of nutrition websites I regularly use indicated that Dole and my nutrition book were accurate, but the information on the Market Pantry packaging is way off.

Perhaps the person responsible for providing this info meant to input *40%* rather than 4%. That's the most logical explanation.

I am more inclined to believe that this is an error than the notion that the blackberries that Market Pantry brand uses are deficient in Vitamin C for some reason.

I urge you to correct this error ASAP -- I read labels all the time, and I actually use the information on them to make purchasing decisions, and many other health-conscious consumers do the same.

If I don't see the packaging revised in the relatively near future (perhaps you could provide me with a timeframe in which I could expect this fix to get made?), I will have to assume that there is a reason that Market Pantry brand blackberries are deficient in Vitamin C and will have to cease buying them. At two cups per day, I buy several bags of blackberries per week.

Thanks for your time.

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Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by Nate! Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 6:45 PM I hope they get back to you. You may also want to contact them directly if they fail to respond. Is there a customer service # on the box? Reply Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by Samantha C. Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 5:06 PM The nutritional value of any frozen fruit or vegetable all depends on when they were frozen (before ripe, ripe etc.) and how they were frozen ( long and slow or fast) and how long they have been frozen. Just as fresh produce, frozen produce loses it's nutritional value as well. Frozen is not always better, fresh tends to go bad faster but has more nutritional value whereas frozen lasts longer but the nutritional content is not the same. The nutrition labels are merely a guideline when it comes to fruits and vegetables because of the breakdown process that occurs within the fruit or veg. If you are so concerned about nutrition use fresh produce. Reply You are incorrect by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 6:54 PM And by discrepancy, I don't mean 10 percentage points by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 6:56 PM I can vouch for the apples by Venice Mon July 27, 2009 @ 9:07 PM I dated a produce distributor by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 10:09 PM local produce? by Nicole F. Mon July 27, 2009 @ 11:38 PM No I'm not by Samantha C. Tue July 28, 2009 @ 12:00 AM I live in Minnesota by RedheadwGlasses Tue July 28, 2009 @ 8:56 AM "I'm not overly worried about the nutritional content of food. I merely wrote this letter to point out what is an obvious error in Target's packaging." by Donno Tue July 28, 2009 @ 11:40 AM meow! heh. n/t you stinker by RedheadwGlasses Tue July 28, 2009 @ 12:51 PM I have to agree with you on this by Venice Tue July 28, 2009 @ 5:57 PM Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by Pete Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 4:26 PM Great letter! Reply Thank you! n/t by RedheadwGlasses Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 7:50 PM Reply Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by Just Jeffrey Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 11:25 AM Good letter. I can see how these things can be a little different -- the method of freezing and other variables can contribute to differences. But a 46% difference tells me the same as it did you: either it's an error, or they are using some funky berries. By the way, it's refreshing to see a blackberry letter that's not a complaint about the Storm. Reply Heh by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 12:42 PM Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by RowdyRetailer Posted Mon July 27, 2009 @ 8:13 AM If you are taking a good multi vitamin you should be fine. Good Day Reply There is no evidence whatsoever that taking vitamins does anything by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 9:21 AM But I love my Gummi-Vites! by Harleycat Mon July 27, 2009 @ 10:35 AM Oh good grief! by MA Cunningham Mon July 27, 2009 @ 11:24 AM Those are my favorite! by Maegan Z. Mon July 27, 2009 @ 12:49 PM Can you still by Brendalala Mon July 27, 2009 @ 12:53 PM I think you'd need more than two by MA Cunningham Tue July 28, 2009 @ 9:28 AM Mixing vitamins with your yogurt by Donno Mon July 27, 2009 @ 12:49 PM My physician asked that I not to take OTC vitamins by dulynoted (aka duttycalls) Mon July 27, 2009 @ 5:35 PM As I said.. by Harleycat Tue July 28, 2009 @ 11:59 AM Pirates? by Donno Posted Sun July 26, 2009 @ 11:57 PM How do pirates fit into this situation? Why would pirates care about their nutrition? Reply Pirates need Vitamin C so they don't get Scurvy?!! by Venice Mon July 27, 2009 @ 12:50 AM Spinach IS a good source of iron by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 9:26 AM Yes, it's a good source of iron by Venice Mon July 27, 2009 @ 3:34 PM argh, they get scurvy, matey! n/t by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 9:21 AM Evidently by Donno Mon July 27, 2009 @ 1:24 PM British Sailors.. by Harleycat Wed July 29, 2009 @ 2:21 PM I love your letters! by Michelle O. Posted Sun July 26, 2009 @ 10:36 PM They are always so well stated and interesting to read. I bet they are a breath of fresh air for the people in customer service. Hope you get an answer. Reply Thanks! by RedheadwGlasses Mon July 27, 2009 @ 9:26 AM Re: Market Pantry Frozen Blackberries: Nutrition Labeling Error? Or Vitamin C Deficiency? Pirates Want To Know! by Bill R. Posted Sun July 26, 2009 @ 9:32 PM Angela N., Well stated. Please stop back and tell us their response. BillR. Reply