This study aimed to investigate the relationship between meal regularity (i.e. breakfast intake and meal-times), and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among generally healthy Korean single-person household adults (≤60 years, n=594) based on the Seventh Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) (2016~2018). Among men (n=325), the breakfast intake frequency was not significantly associated with the pervalence of MetS. However, men consuming a regular meal at least once a day showed a lower prevalence of MetS compared to those whose meals were irregular. These patterns remained after adjusting for age, smoking and drinking habits, individual income, education level, exercise, and total calorie intake. An association between meal regularity and MetS risk was observed in post-menopausal women (n=84), but not in pre-menopausal women (n=185). More specifically post-menopausal women with irregular breakfast eating habits or eating no breakfast at all showed a significantly higher risk of MetS than those eating breakfast regularly after the adjustment. The analysis revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 8.46, confidence intervals (CIs): 1.149~62.199, P<0.05 in irregular breakfast eaters, and an OR of 13.377, CIs: 1.665~107.511, P<0.05, in those who ate no breakfast. Furthermore, post-menopausal women who had irregular meals daily showed a higher risk of MetS than those consuming one or more regular meals/day after the adjustment (OR: 16.888, CIs: 1.258~226.655, P<0.05). In conclusion, the results from this study may be used for formulating optimal dietary guidelines for the prevention and the management of MetS in adults in single-person households.

This study sought to analyze the need for nutritional education to enhance the selection of desirable foods by adolescents. A total of 480 high school students in Incheon were surveyed and their responses were analyzed for the recognition of nutrition labeling and their consumption of processed foods and snacks. Almost all the students (93.1%) recognized nutrition labeling, but 54.6% rarely checked the nutrition labeling. The nutrients recognized as important in the nutrition label of processed foods were total fat/saturated fat/trans fat (3.75 out of 5), calories (3.68), and sodium (3.67) in that order. The recognition of the importance of calories was significantly higher in female students compared to male students (3.78 vs. 3.58, P<0.05). The information identified as important were the date of manufacture and expiration (4.21 out of 5), price (4.14), and the nutrition label (3.15). The preference for processed foods was highest in the order of beverages (4.03 out of 5), noodles (4.02), and frozen desserts (3.97), and the preference of females for processed foods was significantly higher than males (P<0.001). The time when snacks were most frequently consumed were before going to the academy (21.0%), after school (19.4%), and after attending private institutes (15.0%). The main reasons for using processed foods as snacks were taste (44.4%), 'no time to eat a meal' (26.4%), and low price (17.7%). In conclusion, while students mostly recognized nutrition labeling, the actual usage rate was low, and snacks were selected and consumed instead of meals for reasons such as attending academic institutes after school. Thus, to encourage the choice of proper processed foods and snacks for adolescents, practical nutrition education using nutrition labeling is needed.

This study investigates perception of the free school meal program, satisfaction of school meal, and eating habits of free and paid school meal program students in the Busan area. Between 20 to May 2020, a total of 350 students were researched, of which 177 belonged to the second grade of high school (free school meal program), and 173 were from the third grade of high school (paid school meal program). 96.0% free school meal program students and 89.0% paid school meal program students responded to the necessity of a free school meal program, which was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). All questions regarding the perception of the free school meal program, which were responded to by more than 3 points, were considered positive. 'Decline of the school meal's quality' had the maximum response, from 64.4% and 76.4% free and paid school meal program students, respectively, and was significantly different between groups (P<0.05). Paid school meal program students wasted significantly more school food than the free school meal program students (P<0.001). 'Not delicious' was responded by 56.0% free school meal program students and 50.0% paid school meal program students. Evaluating satisfaction of the food quality and service categories was determined to be higher amongst free school meal program students than the paid school meal program students (P<0.05). Considering our study data, we propose that with the gradual expension of free school meal programs, inclusion as part of the education system will serve as a foundation for proper eating habits, and compulsory education will help improve students' health and quality of life.

This study analyzed the intake of calories and nutrients based on the consumption of black beans. The survey was conducted on 124 college students (male: 42, female: 82), of whom 63.7% (79 students) were consumers of black beans. The calorie intake of the black bean intake group (1599.81±555.48 kcal) was significantly higher than that of the non-black bean intake group (1259.99±507.58 kcal) (P<0.01). The black bean intake group also showed a significantly higher intake of crude protein (P<0.05), plant protein (P<0.01), animal protein (P<0.05), crude fiber (P<0.001), plant calcium (P<0.001), plant iron (P<0.001), zinc (P<0.01), vitamin B2 (P<0.01), vitamin C (P<0.01), vitamin E (P<0.01) and folic acid (P<0.001) compared to the non-black bean intake group. There was a positive correlation between the frequency of black bean intake and crude fiber (P<0.05), plant calcium (P<0.05), plant iron (P<0.05), and folic acid (P<0.05). Overall, the black bean intake group was more likely to eat black sesame 13.82 times (95% CI=5.37, 35.55), white beans 10.79 times (95% CI=3.53, 33.02), mung beans 7.22 times (95% CI=2.58, 20.23), and brown rice 4.72 times (95% CI=1.88, 11.84), than the non-black bean intake group. In conclusion, we believe that black beans constitute a vital food ingredient that is necessary to provide Korean college students with a well-balanced diet.

This study evaluated the sanitation management standards for vegetable preparation processes without a cooking stage. The aerobic plate counts (APC), coliform counts, and Escherichia coli of the samples at each production step were analyzed, and microbial growth of the samples stored at different temperatures was measured. The validation was judged in accordance with the microbial criteria stipulated by the British PHLS. After washing and disinfection, the APCs of the two samples decreased to 3~4 log CFU/g in both seasons. Compared to the purchasing stage, the decrease in coliform counts was approximately 0~3 log CFU/g in both seasons; E. coli was not detected. The initial APC and coliform levels of two vegetable samples were 4~5 log CFU/g in both seasons, with an increase of 1 log CFU/g taking more than 6 h at 25℃ and 2 h at 35℃. More than 10 h at 25℃ and 6 h at 35℃ were required to increase the E. coli O157:H7 count by 1~2 log CFU/g for two seasoned samples. In conclusion, washing and disinfection effects and changes in microbial growth during room temperature storage were similar in the two vegetables. Despite the low sanitizing effect of the two vegetables, when cut vegetables were stored under the critical limit within 2 h at two different room temperatures, seasoned lettuce and chicory were at the 'satisfactory' or 'acceptable' levels of PHLS regardless of the storage temperatures. The validation of sanitation management standards applied to vegetable preparation with the no-cook step was approved.