Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A study on the consumer behavior and attitude toward low-sodium convenience store foods

  • Suah Moon (Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Jimin Lim (Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Gaeun Yeo (Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Yuri Kim (Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Jieun Oh (College of Science and Industry Convergence, Ewha Womans University)
  • Received : 2023.12.22
  • Accepted : 2024.04.30
  • Published : 2024.08.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the potential of convenience stores as platforms for healthy food consumption, including low-sodium options, in response to the increasing trend of meal behaviors at convenience stores and the growing demand for healthy eating. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In the study, 627 Korean participants aged 10 to 39 were involved. A self-reported questionnaire survey was used and questions were regarding purchase patterns, consumption behaviors, perceptions and selection attributes of convenience store foods, and consumer perception factors for low-sodium options. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 (SPSS, Version 26.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The study uncovered significant disparities in the consumption behavior and perception of convenience store foods, as well as variations in the importance and satisfaction levels with convenience store food attributes, including consumer perception factors for low-sodium options, based on sex and age. Furthermore, it was observed that awareness of the need for low-sodium options significantly influenced purchase intentions. CONCLUSION: This study analyzed consumer attitude toward low-sodium convenience store foods to assess the potentiality for promoting healthy eating in convenience stores. These findings indicate the important role that convenience stores can play as platforms for healthy food sales.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (PJ00228072400).

References

  1. Huse O, Reeve E, Baker P, Hunt D, Bell C, Peeters A, Backholer K. The nutrition transition, food retail transformations, and policy responses to overnutrition in the East Asia region: a descriptive review. Obes Rev 2022;23:e13412.
  2. Imtiyaz H, Soni P, Yukongdi V. Understanding consumer's purchase intention and consumption of convenience food in an emerging economy: role of marketing and commercial determinants. J Agric Food Res 2022;10:100399.
  3. Yoon NH, Shon C. Convenience store use and the health of urban adolescents in Seoul, South Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:6486.
  4. Kaji A, Hashimoto Y, Sakai R, Okada H, Hamaguchi M, Ushigome E, Majima S, Yamazaki M, Fukui M. Frequent usage of convenience stores is associated with low diet quality. Nutrients 2019;11:1212.
  5. Lind PL, Jensen PV, Glumer C, Toft U. The association between accessibility of local convenience stores and unhealthy diet. Eur J Public Health 2016;26:634-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckv242
  6. Rummo PE, Meyer KA, Boone-Heinonen J, Jacobs DR Jr, Kiefe CI, Lewis CE, Steffen LM, Gordon-Larsen P. Neighborhood availability of convenience stores and diet quality: findings from 20 years of follow-up in the coronary artery risk development in young adults study. Am J Public Health 2015;105:e65-73. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302435
  7. McKerchar C, Smith M, Gage R, Williman J, Abel G, Lacey C, Ni Mhurchu C, Signal L. Kids in a candy store: an objective analysis of children's interactions with food in convenience stores. Nutrients 2020;12:2143. 
  8. Park SK, Lee JH. Factors influencing the consumption of convenience foods among Korean adolescents: analysis of data from the 15th (2019) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. J Nutr Health 2020;53:255-70. https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2020.53.3.255
  9. Oishi K, Aoki T, Harada T, Tanaka C, Tanaka S, Tanaka H, Fukuda K, Kamikawa Y, Tsuji N, Komura K, et al. Association of neighborhood food environment and physical activity environment with obesity: a large-scale cross-sectional study of fifth-to ninth-grade children in Japan. Inquiry 2021;58:469580211055626.
  10. Zhou S, Cheng Y, Cheng L, Wang D, Li Q, Liu Z, Wang HJ. Association between convenience stores near schools and obesity among school-aged children in Beijing, China. BMC Public Health 2020;20:150.
  11. Powell LM, Auld MC, Chaloupka FJ, O'Malley PM, Johnston LD. Associations between access to food stores and adolescent body mass index. Am J Prev Med 2007;33:S301-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.07.007
  12. Zhang X, Chen B, Jia P, Han J. Locked on salt? Excessive consumption of high-sodium foods during COVID-19 presents an underappreciated public health risk: a review. Environ Chem Lett 2021;19:3583-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01257-0
  13. World Health Organization. Guideline: Sodium Intake for Adults and Children. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. 
  14. Korea Consumer Agency. Investigation of Safety Conditions of Convenience Store Lunch Boxes: Safety Report. Eumseong: Korea Consumer Agency; 2021. 
  15. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021 National health statistics [Internet]. Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2022 [cited 2023 September 8]. Available from: https://knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/sub04/sub04_04_01.do. 
  16. National Institute of Health and Nutrition (JP). The National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) Japan [Internet]. Tokyo: National Institute of Health and Nutrition; 2019 [cited 2023 September 8]. Available from: https://www.nibiohn.go.jp/eiken/kenkounippon21/en/eiyouchousa/. 
  17. Li Y, Zhang P, Wu J, Ma J, Xu J, Zhang X, Luo R, Liu M, Sun Y, Li X, et al. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion and their associations with blood pressure among adults in China: baseline survey of action on salt China. Hypertension 2020;76:1580-8. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15238
  18. Meneton P, Jeunemaitre X, de Wardener HE, MacGregor GA. Links between dietary salt intake, renal salt handling, blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. Physiol Rev 2005;85:679-715. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00056.2003
  19. Bibbins-Domingo K, Chertow GM, Coxson PG, Moran A, Lightwood JM, Pletcher MJ, Goldman L. Projected effect of dietary salt reductions on future cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 2010;362:590-9. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0907355
  20. Nagata C, Takatsuka N, Shimizu N, Shimizu H. Sodium intake and risk of death from stroke in Japanese men and women. Stroke 2004;35:1543-7. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000130425.50441.b0
  21. Enes CC, de Camargo CM, Justino MIC. Ultra-processed food consumption and obesity in adolescents. Rev Nutr 2019;32:e180170. 
  22. Onita BM, Azeredo CM, Jaime PC, Levy RB, Rauber F. Eating context and its association with ultra-processed food consumption by British children. Appetite 2021;157:105007.
  23. Costa CS, Rauber F, Leffa PS, Sangalli CN, Campagnolo PD, Vitolo MR. Ultra-processed food consumption and its effects on anthropometric and glucose profile: a longitudinal study during childhood. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2019;29:177-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2018.11.003
  24. Srour B, Fezeu LK, Kesse-Guyot E, Alles B, Debras C, Druesne-Pecollo N, Chazelas E, Deschasaux M, Hercberg S, Galan P, et al. Ultraprocessed food consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes among participants of the NutriNet-Sante prospective cohort. JAMA Intern Med 2020;180:283-91. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5942
  25. Fiolet T, Srour B, Sellem L, Kesse-Guyot E, Alles B, Mejean C, Deschasaux M, Fassier P, Latino-Martel P, Beslay M, et al. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Sante prospective cohort. BMJ 2018;360:k322.
  26. Pae M. Dietary habits and perception toward food additives according to the frequency of consumption of convenience food at convenience stores among university students in Cheongju. Korean J Community Nutr 2016;21:140-51. https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2016.21.2.140
  27. Kim MS, Sohn DJ. [K-food goes global] Viral frozen 'Kimbap' on a roll in the U.S. [Internet]. Seoul: JoongAng Daily Co., Ltd.; 2023 [cited 2023 September 8]. Available from: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-08-23/business/industry/KFOOD-GOES-GLOBAL-Viral-frozen-Gimbap-on-a-roll-in-the-US/1853406. 
  28. Korea Consumer Agency. Quality Test Report of Convenience Store Triangular Gimbap: Test Result Report. Eumseong: Korea Consumer Agency; 2013.
  29. Marshall D. Convenience stores and well-being of young Japanese consumers. Int J Retail Distrib Manag 2019;47:590-604. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-08-2017-0182
  30. Glanz K, Basil M, Maibach E, Goldberg J, Snyder D. Why Americans eat what they do: taste, nutrition, cost, convenience, and weight control concerns as influences on food consumption. J Am Diet Assoc 1998;98:1118-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(98)00260-0
  31. Dono J, Ettridge K, Wakefield M, Pettigrew S, Coveney J, Roder D, Durkin S, Wittert G, Martin J, Miller C. Nothing beats taste or convenience: a national survey of where and why people buy sugary drinks in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 2020;44:291-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13000
  32. Martinez-Perez N, Telleria-Aramburu N, Insua P, Hernandez I, Telletxea S, Ansotegui L, Rebato E, Basabe N, de Pancorbo MM, Rocandio A, et al. On-campus food purchase behaviors, choice determinants, and opinions on food availability in a Spanish university community. Nutrition 2022;103-104:111789.
  33. Wills W, Danesi G, Kapetanaki AB, Hamilton L. Socio-economic factors, the food environment and lunchtime food purchasing by young people at secondary school. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019;16:1605.
  34. Lee JH, Lee JJ. Changes in retail stores in South Korea and Japan: centered on convenience stores in both countries. Jpn Cult Stud 2018;67:277-92. https://doi.org/10.18075/jcs..67.201807.277
  35. Yeo GE, Lee KW, Lee EY, Jeon YW, Lee JO, Oh JE, Cho MS. Selection attributes of non-timber forest products and consumer attitudes among food-related lifestyle segmentation. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr 2020;49:1152-60. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2020.49.10.1152
  36. Wong SL, Hsu CC, Chen HS. To buy or not to buy? Consumer attitudes and purchase intentions for suboptimal food. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018;15:1431.
  37. Ryu MH. Undergraduate consumers' information needs according to purchase intention toward convenience store private brand foods. Fam Environ Res 2013;51:623-35. https://doi.org/10.6115/fer.2013.51.6.623
  38. Kim TK. T test as a parametric statistic. Korean J Anesthesiol 2015;68:540-6. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.6.540
  39. Yang CC. Improvement actions based on the customers' satisfaction survey. Total Qual Manage Bus Excell 2003;14:919-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/1478336032000090842
  40. Chen S, Shan LC, Tao W, Lu T, Regan A, Han H, Guo L, Deng T, Wall P. A survey of Chinese consumers' knowledge, beliefs and behavioural intentions regarding salt intake and salt reduction. Public Health Nutr 2020;23:1450-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019003689
  41. Ji Y, Han J. Sustainable home meal replacement (HMR) consumption in Korea: exploring service strategies using a modified importance-performance analysis. Foods 2022;11:889.
  42. Liu YY, Chen SH, Zhang JX. Applying importance-satisfaction model to evaluate customer satisfaction: an empirical study of foodpanda. Sustainability (Basel) 2021;13:10985.
  43. Korea Rural Economic Institute. 2022 Processed food consumer attitude survey [Internet]. Naju: Korea Rural Economic Institute; 2023 [cited 2023 May 2]. Available from: http://www.krei.re.kr/. 
  44. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (KR); Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation. 2019 Report on the current status of the processed food market for convenience and processed foods [Internet]. Naju: Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation; 2019 [cited 2023 May 2]. Available from: https://www.atfis.or.kr/home/board/FB0027.do?act=read&bpoId=3260&bcaId=0&pageIndex=1. 
  45. National Food Safety Information Service (KR). A survey on the nutritional components of home meal replacements sold in convenience stores [Internet]. Cheongju: National Food Safety Information Service; 2020 [cited 2023 May 2]. Available from: https://www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=44833. 
  46. Lee SK, Kim MK. Relationship of sodium intake with obesity among Korean children and adolescents: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Br J Nutr 2016;115:834-41. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515005152
  47. Zhu H, Pollock NK, Kotak I, Gutin B, Wang X, Bhagatwala J, Parikh S, Harshfield GA, Dong Y. Dietary sodium, adiposity, and inflammation in healthy adolescents. Pediatrics 2014;133:e635-42. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1794
  48. Simons-Morton DG, Obarzanek E. Diet and blood pressure in children and adolescents. Pediatr Nephrol 1997;11:244-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004670050271
  49. Van Boxstael S, Devlieghere F, Berkvens D, Vermeulen A, Uyttendaele M. Understanding and attitude regarding the shelf life labels and dates on pre-packed food products by Belgian consumers. Food Control 2014;37:85-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.08.043
  50. Okumus B, Dedeoglu BB, Shi F. Gender and generation as antecedents of food neophobia and food neophilia. Tour Manag Perspect 2021;37:100773.
  51. Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Perry C, Casey MA. Factors influencing food choices of adolescents: findings from focus-group discussions with adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99:929-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00222-9
  52. Gerend MA. Does calorie information promote lower calorie fast food choices among college students? J Adolesc Health 2009;44:84-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.06.014
  53. Mohr B, Dolgopolova I, Roosen J. The influence of sex and self-control on the efficacy of nudges in lowering the energy content of food during a fast food order. Appetite 2019;141:104314.
  54. McKenzie B, Santos JA, Trieu K, Thout SR, Johnson C, Arcand J, Webster J, McLean R. The science of salt: a focused review on salt-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and gender differences. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2018;20:850-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.13289
  55. Iaccarino Idelson P, D'Elia L, Cairella G, Sabino P, Scalfi L, Fabbri A, Galletti F, Garbagnati F, Lionetti L, Paolella G, et al. Salt and health: survey on knowledge and salt intake related behaviour in Italy. Nutrients 2020;12:279.
  56. Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A, Nillapun M, Jonwutiwes K, Bellisle F. Gender differences in food choice: the contribution of health beliefs and dieting. Ann Behav Med 2004;27:107-16. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2702_5
  57. Driskell JA, Meckna BR, Scales NE. Differences exist in the eating habits of university men and women at fast-food restaurants. Nutr Res 2006;26:524-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2006.09.003
  58. Qazzafi S. Consumer buying decision process toward products. Int J Sci Res Eng Dev 2019;2:130-4. 
  59. Lim J, Moon S, Yeo GE, Kim ES, Kim Y, Oh JE. A study on a perception and promotion plan for employees to increase the consumption of low-sodium foods using importance performance analysis (IPA) - focused on ready-to-eat foods (samgak-kimbap, riceballs) -. J Korean Soc Food Cult 2023;38:129-42. https://doi.org/10.7318/KJFC/2023.38.3.129