A Fresh Take: Fruit and Vegetable Content and Produce-Related Food Safety Communication in Commercial Meal Kits

Objectives: At least 8 in 10 Americans fail to consume the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables each day. While fruit/vegetable intake is key to preventing nutrition-related chronic diseases, improper fresh produce handling may expose consumers to foodborne pathogens. Meal kits are boxes of fresh ingredients delivered directly to consumers with step-by-step instructions for in-home preparation. Recipes include a variety of foods, including fresh produce. While meal kits can potentially improve fruit/vegetable intake, their fruit/vegetable composition and food safety communication are unknown.