March is National Frozen Food Month
By: WROC
Updated: June 24, 2008
Along with being National Nutrition Month, March is also National Frozen Food Month.
Clarence Birdseye found a way to flash-freeze foods and deliver them to the public-one of the most important steps forward taken in the food industry. When he was sent to the Artic to work as a naturalist for the US government, he observed first-hand the ways of the Native Americans who lived there. He saw that a combination of ice, wind and temperature almost instantly froze just-caught fish straight through. More importantly, he discovered that when the fish were cooked and eaten, they were scarcely different in taste and texture.
Brief History of Frozen Foods
The 30's
§ Birdseye launches retail sales of frozen food products in Springfield, MA.
§ The Birdseye Frosted Foods Co. sells packaged meat, fish, oysters, vegetables and fruit from low temperature display cases in selected stores in the eastern US.
The 40's
§ Annual frozen food production rises from slightly over 1.5 billion pounds to 2.5 billion pounds.
§ New frozen products are introduced including puff pastries, hors d'oeuvres, soups, entrees, French fries, Mexican cuisine, whipped topping, meat pies and pizza.
§ The Food and Drug Administration gives increasing attention to industry packaging practices and sanitation methods and begins to establish standards for frozen food products.
The 50's
§ Frozen food sales exceed the $1 billion mark.
§ The introduction of precooked or prepared frozen foods opens up an entirely new field for industry growth.
§ Swanson introduces the first TV dinner.
§ Frozen foods enter the airline market.
The 60's
§ The microwave oven is introduced.
§ Frozen vegetable mixes become popular.
§ Frozen main courses and entrees take off in popularity.
§ Frozen food sales soar when astronauts return from landing on the moon; eat prepared frozen entrees and side dishes.
§ McDonald's accepts frozen fish portions and meat patties.
The 70's
§ Frozen stir fry vegetables are introduced.
§ Burger King decides to use frozen meat patties and other products.
The 80's
§ Cook-in box vegetables and single-serve packages are introduced.
§ Frozen ethic cuisines rise in popularity.
§ Frozen low calorie entrees are introduced (Lean Cuisine).
§ Frozen low priced entrees premier (Budget Gourmet).
§ Lack of freezer space in retail outlets increasingly becomes a problem for the industry.
§ Microwave items increase in popularity.
The 90's
§ FDA deems frozen fruit and vegetable products to have the equivalent or superior nutrient profiles than their fresh counterparts.
§ Spicy, ethnic foods hit an all-time high in popularity.
§ Consumers eat up family size portions.
§ Frozen meal starters and one-dished prepared make their debut, and have immediate success.
The 00's
§ The frozen food industry is only limited by its imagination!
