• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.849-857
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate 5th grade elementary school girls' effort to recognize and use nutritional labels on processed foods and restaurant meals to encourage dietary behavior. The subjects (n=976) were divided into three groups (effort group, n=711; normal group, n=193; and no-effort group, n=72) depending on level of effort for the healthy dietary behavior such as eating balanced meals, eating three meals regularly, and eating meals slowly. In the effort group, the frequency of food intake for breads, ramen, noodles and fast foods was significantly lower, while frequency of food intake for fruits and vegetables and salad was significantly higher than in the other two groups. In the effort group, the ratio of the respondents that perception of nutrition labeling on processed foods and restaurant meals was 80.5% and 31.4% and the ratio of girls who checked the nutrition labeling at their point of purchase was 71.1% and 24.7%, respectively. Reasons given for not reading nutrition labeling for restaurant meals were 'not interested' for 34.6% of the effort group, and 52.2% of the no-effort group. Therefore, it is necessary to create an educational program on healthy dietary behavior, including how to read nutrition labeling and establishment of proper body image perception for elementary school girls.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.719-723
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: South Korean's sodium consumption level is more than twice the upper limit level suggested by the WHO. Steep increases in the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Korea necessitate more effective sodium reduction programs. This study was conducted in order to compare sodium intake-related eating behaviors and key psychosocial factors according to age group and gender. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using an online survey, a total of 1,564 adults (20-59 years old) considered to be geographically representative of South Korea were recruited and surveyed. The major outcomes were perceived behaviors, knowledge, intentions, and self-efficacy related to sodium intake. RESULTS: The results show that perceived behavior and level of self-efficacy related to low sodium consumption differed by age and gender. Female participants showed better behavior and intention towards low sodium intake than male counterparts. Young participants in their 20s showed the lowest intention to change their current sodium intake as well as lowest self-efficacy measures. CONCLUSIONS: Future sodium reduction interventions should be developed with tailored messages targeting different age and gender groups. Specifically, interventions can be planned and implemented at the college level or for workers in their early career to increase their intention and self-efficacy as a means of preventing future health complications associated with high sodium intake.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-170
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• 2013

This study examined awareness and information acquisition behavior regarding food hygiene and safety of university students to improve safe dietary practices and to get basic information to develop educational materials for food safety. It was conducted among 276 university students of Qingdao University and Liaocheng University in Shandong province, China through a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS Windows V.19.0. To describe characteristics of the respondents, frequency distributions were used. In addition, t test, one-way analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range tests were conducted. The results were as follows: The respondents were generally interested in food hygiene and safety. However, the level of awareness regarding the food hygiene and safety system in China was not high. Almost forty-five percent of the respondents did not think that foods produced and distributed in China were safe. For the reasons for their distrust, most of the students replied that they did not trust the safety 'because of distrust for hygiene of the food process', followed by 'because of distrust for food distribution' and 'because of excess or illegal use of food additives on food process'. The respondents answered for the concern level toward food hygiene and safety foodborne disease threatened food safety the most, followed by heavy metal contamination and endocrine disruptors. The respondents acquired most information from electronic media including TV and radio. Most of the students wanted to participate in food hygiene and safety education. Finally, when they found hazardous or foreign materials in food the most frequent reaction was 'paying attention in the next purchase', followed by 'notifying others', and 'letting it go this time but never buying that product in the future'.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.112-125
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• 2020

Objectives: Diet and incidence of chronic diseases are highly related. This study examined the characteristics of dietary safety awareness and competency for chronic disease prevention among adults. Methods: Data were collected from 247 adults in Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas using a self-administered questionnaire in May and June of 2018. Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, χ²-test, factor analysis, reliability analysis, t-test, one-way analysis of variances, and correlation. Results: The results of the factor analysis indicate that dietary safety awareness of health management was classified into chronic disease anxiety and obsession. Awareness of dietary safety management was sub-grouped into difficulty in acquiring knowledge, lack of awareness of over and malnutrition, food safety anxiety, importance of weight management, education requirement for cancer prevention, and knowledge. Dietary safety behavior composed of a balanced diet, unhealthy diet, and health-functional pursuit. Dietary safety management competency was comprised of health management, food management, and cooking. The competency scores of dietary safety management factors were significantly different according to sex, age, and education level (P < 0.05). Balanced diet factor was significantly correlated with knowledge, health-functional pursuit, health management, food management, and cooking capacity factors (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Active education for dietary safety management competency according to age, gender, and education level should provide dietary safety education to reduce anxiety and obsession regarding chronic diseases and sustainable health management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.623-630
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in perception of food hygiene and interest in dietary information among university students. A total of 550 college students from Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area participated in this questionnaire using one-to-one interviews from September 20th to 28th, 2012. Three groups were classified according to level of awareness and practice of food safety. The highest education level of food safety was in the active-practice group (69.6%), with 58.0% in the want-practice group and 24.6% in the low-practice group. There were significant differences between the awareness and practice groups in terms of importance of food safety (p<0.001). Exactly 74.3% interest in food hygiene was measured in the active-practice group. Interests in dietary and food information were different between the groups: 71.4% for the active-practice group versus 24.6% for the low-practice group (p<0.001). Low-practice group showed the lowest scores for interests in organic food, pesticide-free food, low-pesticide food, slow food, LOHAS, healthy-functional food, nutritional labels, and expiration dates. In conclusion, appropriate levels of food hygiene and food safety education should be provided by the food industry according to perception of food awareness and practice of food safety.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.116-129
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• 2009

The study was conducted to evaluate consumer awareness of the risk elements associated with foods and their information search behavior regarding food safety. The data were collected from 504 adult consumers living in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju through a self-administered questionnaire on August, 2006. Frequency analyses, t tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Duncan's multiple range comparison tests were conducted to analyze the responses using SPSS v. 14.0. The levels of recognition of consumers regarding each risk element were generally low. Many respondents answered that they obtained information regarding food safety from TV/radio/newspapers and family/relatives/friends/neighbors. The respondents also indicated that they had strong confidence in the information from family/relatives/friends/neighbors. Additionally, most respondents required information regarding heavy metal contamination, endoctrine disruptors, and avian influenza.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.305-314
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• 2012

This study examined awareness and information acquisition behavior regarding food hygiene and safety and information search behavior of college students. The sample was obtained from 284 students in Yeungnam region through a self-administered questionnaire. To describe characteristics of the respondents, frequency distributions were used. In addition, $t$ tests, analysis of variance and Duncan multiple range tests were conducted. Data were analyzed by SPSS Windows V.18.0. The results of the study were as follows: (1) most respondents were concerned about food hygiene and safety. They were mostly interested in the expiration date label on breads, milk/dairy products, fish products and meat products, and price of cookies. Many respondents answered that foods produced and distributed in Korea were not safe. The respondents were most worried about endocrine disruptors among various food risk factors. The respondents received information on food hygiene and safety from blogs, mini-homepages, or Kin-searches on the Internet, electronic media, and food labeling in decreasing order.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.793-802
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• 2023

The aim of this study analyzed changes in dietary habits and lifestyles before and after COVID-19 targeting adolescents, using the food consumption behavior survey (2019 vs 2021). In the change in health-related factors, height decreased overall, and a significant difference was especially evident in males. Awareness that functional foods and eco-friendly foods contribute to health has increased. Among the results of dietary behavior, the frequency of skipping breakfast showed that the rate of not skipping breakfast and the rate of skipping breakfast more than 5 times increased at the same time(p=0.019). The rate of eating out decreased significantly after COVID-19, and it was analyzed that schools and school cafeteria, as well as Street carts or restaurants and academy, all increased significantly as places where snacks were not consumed. In order to analyze changes in food-related lifestyle, it was grouped into convenience-seeking, quality/safety-seeking, taste-seeking, and health/safety-seeking. 'Small packaged or pre-processed products' decreased. On the other hand, items such as 'Safety rather than price when choosing food' and 'Don't eat food that could go bad' improved. 'Tend to eat regularly' was higher than 2021 compared to 2019. Also 'Tend to purchase HACCP and GAP-certified products' are increased. Because of COVID-19 changes in lifestyle have affected the diet of adolescents. The results of this study suggest that it can be used as a guideline establishment and nutrition counseling material for the formation of correct eating habits for adolescents in the future pandemic era.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.581-593
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• 2010

This study was performed to find out the correct recognition and stabilization of the food labeling system, and the dietary behavior of college students for processed food as well as their recognition of the food labeling system as observed according to their residence type. A questionnaire was composed with three divisions containing general items, the dietary behavior for processed food and the effectiveness of the nutrition labeling system. The data was analyzed by SPSS WIN 17.0 and the results are as follows; The findings showed differences according to residence type were the intake frequency of processed food, the ways of preservation and the reasons of returning or exchange of the purchased processed food. And there was no difference in the recognition of dietary behavior for processed food and food nutrition labeling system. For overall perception of the dietary behavior and the recognition of the food labeling system, the ratio of college students who considered selection standard related to health when purchasing processed food was low. And the ratio of those who checked the label for milk and dairy products or instant food which is concerned with decomposition was high. On the contrary, the ratio of checking was relatively low for beverages, noodles and cookies. Many answered that the reason for having checked the food label was to find out the safety of the food and that of having read the nutrition label was to control weight and to check the nutrition ingredients. In general, many answered positively for the recognition and the necessity of food labeling system, but the actual practice of selecting and managing processed food was poor.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.484-496
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was implementing the high-school 'Food Safety and Health' curriculum using the workbook, and to evaluate the educational impact on, and satisfaction of student who participated in class. A total of 109 lessons were undertaken in home economics classes by referring to the 'Food Safety and Health' workbook for 1,154 students attending seven high schools located in seven cities and provinces across the Korea. In order to examine the effects of classes by referring to workbooks, pre- and post-evaluations were conducted by devising a questionnaire about dietary behavior associated with food safety, creative problem-solving abilities, community capacities, and social cooperation capacities. The results of the analysis of the collected data from 674 students who participated in the pre- and post-evaluations are as follows. First, according to the results of the paired t-test conducted to examine the effects of using the workbook in classes on dietary behavior, significant positive changes were observed in the dietary behavior related to food safety, creative problem-solving skills, community consciousness, and social cooperation capabilities. Second, as a result of the students' evaluation of classes by referring to the 'Food Safety and Health' workbook, both satisfaction and interest in the class using the workbook were high, and the difficulty level was deemed to be appropriate. Additionally, it was found that the students actively participated in learning activities. The reason for this appears to be that the aforementioned workbook consisted of various student activities such as experiments, practical exercises, and group activities aimed at strengthening the link between life and education, thus enabling increased student participation.