• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 2022

This study identifies the perceptions and choice attributes toward plant-based foods and identifies the differences between vegetarians and omnivores. We conducted an online survey of 245 vegetarians and 246 omnivores. The results reveal a significant difference between vegetarians and omnivores. Compared to omnivores, vegetarians perceived that plant-based food products would be 'good taste', 'animal-friendly', and 'consistent with their personal value'. Omnivore scores were higher in the perception that it would be 'good for health' and 'environment-friendly'. No statistically significant difference was obtained between both diet groups when considering the factor of nutrition. When considering choice as an attribute for plant-based food products, vegetarians responded that 'ingredients' were the most important, while omnivores responded that 'taste' was the most important. These results can be used as basic data for developing and promoting plant-based food products in South Korea.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability of the electrical measurement of taste detection on different dates and in different sessions in healthy young females. Methods: The sites of electrical stimulation were the tip of the tongue, the posterolateral border of the tongue and the soft palate on the right side unilaterally. The measurements were repeated over three consecutive days, three sessions per day and three times for each session in seventeen healthy females. The repeatability of the measurement was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: In the dB unit, the ICC of the tip of the tongue and the soft palate was good (61.03 and 66.03, respectively); however, the lateral border of the tongue was a little lower (58.07). In the ㎂ unit, all three test sites had poor ICC. Variability was more significantly associated with the subject factor than with other factors such as trials, sessions and days in dB and ㎂ units. Conclusions: Electrogustometry, which measures electrical taste detection thresholds in the dB unit, is repeatable and acceptable for clinical use in assessing taste function in healthy young females.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.546-554
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children according to the self-perceived dietary preferences for sweet taste by mothers in Busan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 277 mothers were surveyed, and their perceptions of sugar reduction and the frequency of snacking in children were assessed using a questionnaire. The subjects were classified into either a sweet (n = 91) or an unsweet (n = 186) group according to their self-perceived preferences for a sweet taste. RESULTS: In the sweet group, the results for sweet products were sweetened ice (86.8%), confectionery (74.7%), processed milk (73.6%), carbonated beverages (71.4%), and fermented milk (53.9%). In the unsweet group, the results were sweetened ice (88.7%), carbonated beverages (78.5%), processed milk (75.8%), confectionery (69.4%), and fermented milk (50.5%). The necessity of sugar intake reduction was high in both groups (sweet = 89.0%, unsweet = 82.8%). Beverage purchases after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.05). The reasons for the beverage purchases instead of water were "habitually" (50.5%) and "like sweet taste" (25.3%) in the sweet group (P < 0.01). Snacking in children was significantly higher in the sweet group based on the increased frequencies of carbonated drinks (P < 0.01), fast food (P < 0.001), candy and chocolate (P < 0.05), crackers (P < 0.01), ramen (P < 0.01), and fish paste/hotdogs (P < 0.01). The frequency of purchase education after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a perception of sugar reduction and practical nutrition education aimed at reducing the sugar intake are necessary to improve dietary habits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate individuals' perceptions toward green tea and green tea cafes according to their usage of green tea cafes, gender, and marital status. The survey was conducted online and completed by 200 respondents who had been to green tea cafes and by 200 respondents who had not. The visitors of green tea cafes had more positive perceptions regarding the atmosphere, familiar taste, good quality of raw foods, freshness of foods, good service, excellent taste, and menu variety of green tea cafes. Males perceived green tea as 'good for health' more than the females. There was no difference in the perception of green tea cafes by marital status. Regarding a popularization plan for green tea cafes, the customers felt more need for a tea sommelier than the non-customers, and females versus males felt stronger about having a tea sommelier that would provide opportunities to taste various tea products and develop a green tea menu that considered nutrition and health. Unmarried respondents felt a greater necessity for having a place with a comfortable environment, tasting a variety of tea products, and having a chance to experience tea culture. When selecting a green tea cafe, the quality of the food and cleanliness of the cafe were considered to be most important. The implications of the data are discussed.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.271-276
• /
• 2005

A totally 178 housewives in Gyeongnam were surveyed on consumer's purchase behavior and perception of branded pork. The degree of consumers' perception and reliance on the branded pork was still low. Consumers' consideration quality factors when buying pent is higher in order of safety/hygiene>taste/tenderness>meat color, In taste, consumer preferred Korean native pig meat when compared to the common meat. But the consumers have a notion that the price of Korean native pig meat was too expensive. The consumer preferred consumer group to government agency as a official approval organ for pork quality assurance. The consumers had different behavior in information channel, purchase frequency and place depending on age, income. In the development of branded pork, further studied are required on consumers' purchase behavior, perception, preference choice and decision-making process of branded pork.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2006

Sensory factors are important determinants of appetite and food choices but little is known about factors affecting taste acuity and preference of Koreans. Any factors causing deficits in sweet taste perception may lead to over consumption of simple sugar, which is related to several chronic diseases. This study was conducted to determine factors affecting sweet taste sensitivity and preference. Subjects were 30 government employees who were serving as school dietitians or in the area of public health while they were studying in the program for the qualification to become nutrition teachers. Sweet taste threshold and the optimally-preferred sweetness of omija jelly were determined by a sensory evaluation and general characteristics, health-related lifestyles, dietary habits and food preferences were determined using a self-administered questionnaire. For the subjects of this study, detection threshold concentration of sucrose solution was $0.184{\pm}0.06%$ and optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly was $13.88{\pm}2.28%$ and there was no significant correlation between the sweet taste sensitivity and preference. Subjects who had higher(${\ge}4$ out of 10) physical or psychological stress and who had late getting-up time (after 7am) tended to have lower sweet taste threshold (higher sensitivity) than their counterpart. The sweet taste preference determined by optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly tended to be lower in the subjects who eat slowly. Those who answered in the questionnaire to prefer sweet foods did have significantly higher optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly. Further research is required to determine whether decreased sensitivity and increased preference for sweetness can increase the actual intake of simple sugar. (J Community Nutrition 8(2): 107 -113, 2006)

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.273-281
• /
• 2013

The study is being conducted to investigate the perceptions and preferences of the Korean kimchi by the Chinese international students in Jeonbuk area. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 197 male (48.9%) and 203 female (51.1%) students. Statistical data analysis is being completed using SPSS v. 12.0. Approximately 95% of Chinese female and 91% of male students know about kimchi before coming to Korea through the Korean movies and dramas. The perceptions for kimchi according to the residence period showed a significantly difference 'kimchi is a nutritious and health food' (p<0.05), 'kimchi has good taste but too hot to eat' (p<0.05), and 'Kimchi is difficult to eat because of the smell' (p<0.05). Approximately 52% of Chinese female and 44% of male students consumed kimchi once or twice a day. The most popular form of kimchi among the 13 varieties was baech kimchi. Chinese female students preferred the 'kkakdugi' (p<0.05), 'chonggak kimchi' (p<0.05), and 'young radish kimchi' (p<0.05) more than the male students. The most liked reason was the 'refreshing taste' (44.8%) whereas the most disliked reasons were 'unfamiliar with eating kimchi' (28.7%) and 'sour taste' (24.2%). Approximately 85% of Chinese female and 60% of male students would like to experience making kimchis by themselves. Extended kimchi consumptions for Chinese answered 'not too fish-like smell' (36.0%), 'not too overly-ripe' (34.5%), 'not too sour' (25.4%), and 'not too hot' (25.4%). Therefore, in order to improve the awareness for kimchi among Chinese students, we need to relate kimchi with the taste of Chinese traditional foods.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between taste perceptions and risk factors for health of Korean elderly living in rural areas. Recognition thresholds for four basic tastes, drug consumption, BMI, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in 176 males and 312 females aged between 50 and 88 years. For the recognition threshold of the four basic tastes, alcohol drinking did not influence their sensitivities, but the alcohol drinking group preferred a higher pleasant concentration of NaCl than did the non-alcohol drinking group. However, smoking significantly decreased sensitivities of the four basic tastes. For the pleasant concentration of NaCl, the smoking group tended to prefer a higher concentration than the non-smoking group. Drug consumption, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, and serum triglycerides did not have a significant correlation to the sensitivity of the four basic tastes and preference of salty solution. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure may have been positively correlated with the pleasant concentration of NaCl but did not correlate with the recognition thresholds of NaCl and sucrose. Further, systolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with the recognition thresholds of caffeine, whereas diastolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with the recognition thresholds of caffeine and citric acid. The finding that the risk factors for health correlated with taste perception has diagnostic and practical implications for health promotion for the elderly.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.310-315
• /
• 2010

The amount of salt intake of Korean people is 11.4 grams per a day, which is 2.3 times of the recommended daily salt intake by WHO - 5 grams of salt a day. The relationship between high salt consumption and increased risk of high blood pressure, observed not only in hypertensive but also in normotensive patients. High salt intake is also associated with an increased risk of heart attack, cerebral ischemia and osteoporosis. Therefore, this research is for developing a salt taste sensor to reduce sodium consumption and improve meal habits for the perception of a more bland taste of most foods. When the sensor was put into food sample, current intensity achieved with distribution cables. Current intensity was correlate with a simple equivalent of salt taste stimulus intensity. The salt taste sensor consists of salinity & temperature measuring probe, signal processing circuit and LCD display & LED warning light. When salinity is going over a set point, LCD displayer indicate salt taste on LCD panel by percent value (%), and at the same time, blue LED light change to red LED light. So we could know the grade of salt taste in soup before meals conveniently and objectively. The results show that operating range of 10 to $80^{\circ}C$ and accuracy of ${\pm}0.1%$ were achieved with an analysis time of about 2 or 3 sec. Moderate reductions in salt intake can help to avert adult diseases and lead a healthy life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate housewives' perception, interest and consumption of health drinks made in a health food stores, and to assess the relationsh- ip between nutritionally-related-variables and the consumption of health drinks. Data was collected from 518 housewives in Chonnam province. Among many items which housewives perceived about health drinks, three factors of 'preference·health-care', ' quality·convenience' and 'price' were found to be represented. Housewives' perception of 'preference·health-care' was negatively correlated with nutritional knowledge. However, a positive correlation between the 'quality·convenience' and eating habits was found. Consumption of health drinks was positively correlated with the diet management score, the perception and interest in health drinks. However, the inverse relationship between consumption of health drinks and nutritional knowledge was observed. Multiple regression analysis showed that the interest and factors of perception of health drinks. Consumption of health drinks was not based upon accurate knowledge concerning nutrition, but was based upon the consumers' perception of taste preference and healthful quality. Therefore, there is a need to educate consumers about the nutritional value of health drinks and how to use nutritional supplements.