What's Your Freshness IQ? Sub-Zero Digital Quiz Reveals Over 50 Percent of Respondents Don't Know the Basics of Proper Food Preservation

MADISON, Wis., April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to initial scores on Sub-Zero, Inc.'s Freshness IQ Challenge, the majority of quiz-takers received failing marks when it came to the basics of food preservation and storage; the majority also failed to identify food items that should not be refrigerated and knew little about how air quality also impacts food freshness. The Freshness IQ Challenge, launching publicly today, is a free, online quiz created to address these points of uncertainty and educate and engage about the importance of food preservation. Sub-Zero will also be donating one dollar for every quiz taken--up to $25,000--to FoodCorps, one of the nation's leading food education nonprofit organizations.

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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120403/DA80574-b)

"As a brand that stands for freshness, we're thrilled to be able to share Sub-Zero's legacy of preservation expertise in a fun, interactive way," said Michele Bedard, vice president of marketing for Sub-Zero and Wolf. "In partnering with an exceptional nonprofit like FoodCorps, we hope to emphasize the importance of proper food storage and nutrition education."

Broken down into three sections covering general food preservation knowledge, fresh food placement, and the impact of ethylene gas, The Freshness IQ Challenge quiz will give participants the chance to see how much they know about food storage, and learn what proper preservation really entails. A cumulative Freshness IQ score will be given at the end of the quiz, as well as a notification of the donation to FoodCorps and the opportunity to post results on social media platforms.

"As stewards of food and nutrition education, FoodCorps feels it is a natural fit to partner with Sub-Zero, a company that is helping create greater awareness about how to keep food fresh and prevent food waste," said Debra Eschmeyer, co-founder of FoodCorps.

FoodCorps is a nonprofit national service organization that seeks to give vulnerable children an enduring relationship with healthy food. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, FoodCorps recruits emerging leaders for a year of full-time public service improving food education and access in high-obesity, limited-resource communities and schools.  The FoodCorps service members serve under the direction of local partner organizations, educating students on nutrition, building school gardens, and integrating local food into public school cafeterias. 

Since its inception more than 65 years ago, Sub-Zero has been dedicated to advancing the science of food preservation through the implementation of cutting edge technology and seamless design. Sub-Zero's patented dual refrigeration system eliminates the sharing of air between the refrigerator and freezer units, preventing freezer burn and helping fresh food last longer. Additionally, Sub-Zero products work to ensure optimal conditions for all food types through the precise monitoring of temperature and humidity levels. Built-in models also have an air purification system that scrubs the air of odors, ethylene gas, and other contaminants such as bacteria, mold, and viruses; air is refreshed every 20 minutes.

Sub-Zero and FoodCorps are requesting that consumers share The Freshness IQ Challenge with friends and family so they too can take the quiz, either by email or by posting it to their Facebook or Twitter pages. The Freshness IQ Challenge will be available on the Sub-Zero website where quiz-takers can also find Sub-Zero products, design tips, and additional information on preservation.

About Sub-Zero and Wolf
Sub-Zero, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of American-made luxury refrigeration, freezers and wine storage units, and it leads in product design with its built-in and integrated lines. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is a privately held company in its third generation of family ownership. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., Sub-Zero, Inc., also operates a manufacturing facility in Goodyear, Ariz. Specializing in food preservation, Sub-Zero pioneered the concept of dual refrigeration and prides itself on being the first company to store frozen foods at ultralow, "sub-zero" temperatures. Wolf Appliance, Inc., is the premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills and was among the first to introduce the convection oven into the residential market. It is based in a state-of-the-art production facility in Fitchburg, Wis. Both Sub-Zero and Wolf products are available throughout the United States and internationally. For more information about Sub-Zero and Wolf, please visit subzero.com or wolfappliance.com, or call 800-222-7820. For guidance on how to incorporate energy- and cost-saving solutions into the kitchen, visit Sub-Zero and Wolf's GrowAGreenKitchen.com.

About FoodCorps
FoodCorps is a national non-profit organization that seeks to address childhood obesity by increasing vulnerable children's knowledge of, engagement with, and access to healthy food. Service members build and tend school gardens, conduct nutrition education, and facilitate Farm to School programming that brings healthy, affordable local food into public schools. For more information about FoodCorps, visit www.foodcorps.org.

SOURCE Sub-Zero, Inc.