Animated grocery store scene showing a shelf of packaged foods alongside a refrigerated cooler. A plant milk product from the shelf and another from the cooler zoom into view and into a grocery cart. Text at the bottom edge says Grocery Store vs. Refrigerated Section.

Same Product, Different Prices: Why?

Have you noticed that some products in the grocery store—identical in brand, ingredients, and nutrition—are sold both on the shelves and in the refrigerated section? The shelf-stable versions usually cost more. This is especially common with plant milks.

Here's why: shelf-stable drinks are sterilized much more intensively and come in sturdier, aseptic packaging that keeps them safe at room temperature. Refrigerated versions require less intense processing and lighter packaging, since they rely on cold storage to stay fresh.

Bottom line: the refrigerated option will usually save you money—as long as you have fridge space and will use it soon!

WE'RE EXPANDING OUR IMPACT:

University of New Mexico Becomes 10th Medical School to Require Gaples Institute's Clinical Nutrition Course

Animated outline of the state of New Mexico. A pin drops onto the location of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

The Gaples Institute is proud to welcome the University of New Mexico School of Medicine as the 10th medical school to require our clinical nutrition science course as part of its physician training curriculum.

Recognized nationally for its commitment to underserved communities, the University of New Mexico’s adoption of the course reflects a growing recognition that nutrition education in medical training is essential for clinicians to deliver equitable, effective care.

We’re honored to support UNM's mission of bringing nutrition education to populations who need it most!

An animated plate and fork turns into a stethoscope alongside the words Gaples Institute Featured in JAMA

The Gaples Institute and our Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Devries, were recently featured in a medical news story by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The article expressed the urgency of improving clinical nutrition education in physician training programs—an issue at the heart of our mission!

The Gaples Institute's clinical nutrition program, and the many medical schools who have made it a mandatory part of their physician education curriculum, were noted as a bright spot in the integration of nutrition in medical training.

News clipping from JAMA article featuring the Gaples Institute

A new episode of the Gaples Institute's Medicine With a Fork just dropped! In this fan-favorite podcast series on the AMA Ed Hub™—the American Medical Association’s online learning platform—we dive into the science behind fermented foods.

Discover how tasty foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut can support gut health, enhance flavor, and deliver a nutritional boost. Click below to tune in now:

Click to play our latest podcast episode

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