• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effect of food and nutrition label education on the perception and utilization of nutrition labels on food packaging, and to suggest the importance and necessity of food and nutrition label education in the school curriculum. 811 junior-high school students participated in this study and completed self-administered questionnaires regarding general characteristics, and the perception and utilization of nutrition labels. Knowledge of nutrition labels was tested by 13 questions on the questionnaire. Data was analyzed (using SAS package program) based on the educational experience with nutrition labels. Significant differences in each variable were tested using the $X^2$-test and t-test. Students who had learned about the food and nutrition labeling system had more knowledge of nutrition labels and were more likely to check the nutrition label before purchasing food. In addition, students who had been educated about food and nutrition labels in the school curriculum had a significantly higher understanding and recognition of the nutrition label system. These results suggest that education concerning the food and nutrition label system increased the students' interest in nutrition labels and helped them choose healthy food. Therefore, it is necessary to include an education program about food and nutrition labels in the school curriculum to help students use label information and make healthy dietary choices.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.335-344
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• 1996

This study was to investigate consumer recognition on food label of food package. The results of this study were as follows: 1. when shopping for food, the items considered the most were taste of family, food safety, nutrition and price, respectively. 2. 95.5% of respondents confirmed of the food label of food package when shopping for food. The items confirmed the most on food label were expiration date, manufacture date, manufacturer, food additives and nutrition, respectively. 3. 85.3% of respondents did not satisfy on the food label of food label of food package. 43.6% of respondents demanded food additives more detailed. 28.2% of respondents demanded nutrition information more detailed. 28.2% of respondents demanded food function more detailed. 4. The food which respondents satisfied on food label most were snack '||'&'||' cookies, nuddle, spices, can '||'&'||' bottled food, instant food, processed meat foo, frozen food and imported food, respectively. 5. The group with the most hphrases falling in the top rank was nutrition/calories. The phrases in the nutrition/calories group scored in the top rank were 3 "positive" nutritional characteristics(addition of vitamins, addition of DHA, high dietary fiber) and 5 "nagative" nutritional characteristics(no sugar, low sugar, low calories, low salt and low cholesterol). The group with the most phrases falling in the third rank was ingredient. The phrases in the ingredient scored in the third rank were add of food additives. 6. 55.5% of respondents did not know Recommended Daily Allowance(RDA) information and 61.9% of respondents did not understand the nutrition declaration(content) of food package but 65.7% of resspondents understood the nutrition claim of food package. From these result, respondents were more affected by nutrition claim than by nutrition declaration on food package when shopping for food.ood.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.166-175
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• 2008

The effects of nutrition label education on the perception, nutrition knowledge, understanding and applicability of labeling for 81 5$^{th}$ grade students was assessed. Prior to the education, the students' purchasing behavior of processed food was assessed by self-administered questionnaires. The evaluation of subjects' perception and understanding on nutrition label was completed prior to and following four education sessions utilizing materials developed by Korea Food and Drug Administration and Korea Health Industry Development Institute. More than 90% and 15% of subjects purchased processed food weekly and daily, respectively. Considering the nutrition label became an important factor in food purchases following the education sessions. Perception of the value of nutrition label improved from 2.93 to 3.32, although the belief that nutrition labels contributed to the maintenance of good food intake was not significantly increased. The total nutrition knowledge score increased from 5.47 to 7.14 and understanding nutrients composition table was significantly improved (3.17 to 4.80). The results indicate that a school-based nutrition label education program might be an effective aid for adoption of healthier food choices by children.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Use of nutrition labels in food selection is recommended for consumers. The aim of this study is to examine factors, mainly beliefs explaining nutrition label use in female college students based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were female college students from a university in Seoul, Korea. The survey questionnaire was composed of items examining general characteristics, nutrition label use, behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, corresponding motivation to comply, and control beliefs. The subjects (n = 300) responded to the questionnaire by self-report, and data from 275 students were analyzed using t-test or ${\chi}^2$-test. RESULTS: The results showed that 37.8% of subjects were nutrition label users. Three out of 15 behavioral beliefs differed significantly by nutrition label use. Nutrition label users agreed more strongly on the benefits of using nutrition labels including 'comparing and selecting better foods' (P < 0.001), 'selecting healthy foods' (P < 0.05). The negative belief of 'annoying' was stronger in non-users than in users (P < 0.001). Three out of 7 sources (parents, siblings, best friend) were important in nutrition label use. Twelve out of 15 control beliefs differed significantly by nutrition label use. These included beliefs regarding constraints of using nutrition labels (e.g., time, spending money for healthy foods) and lack of nutrition knowledge (P < 0.001). Perceived confidence in understanding and applying the specifics of nutrition labels in food selection was also significantly related to nutrition label use (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the beliefs, especially control beliefs, suggested in the TPB were important in explaining nutrition label use. To promote nutrition label use, nutrition education might focus on increasing perceived control over constraints of using nutrition labels, acquiring skills for checking nutrition labels, as well as the benefits of using nutrition labels and receiving support from significant others for nutrition label use.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.559-568
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• 2008

Even though snacks or meals purchased by teenagers have dramatically increased in Korea, it has not been investigated whether teenagers know and take notice of the nutrition label. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the usefulness and utilization of food and nutrition labels amongst teenagers. Questionnaires were distributed 814 of junior-high school students and were completed by self-administrated questionnaires. Questionnaires included questions regarding general characteristics, perception and utilization of food and nutrition labels and degree of necessity and satisfaction on food products and nutrition labels. Data was analyzed with regards to sex and school year by using a SAS package program. Significant differences of each variable were tested by using the $x^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA. Only 4.4% of participants were well informed about food and nutrition labels, while 26.0% of them did not know about it. Most of participants(78%) perceived that food and nutrition labeling system is necessary but are not satisfied with it. More of them did not check the food and nutrition label when they purchased food. Students usually checked the food and nutrition label to know about the nutritional value, and additives. The survey showed that more than three quarters of participants take notice of the food and nutrition label on products whereas only 57.7% of them knew what the food and nutrition actually meant. This study showed that most teenagers did not know the food and nutrition label, didn't have right information and didn't use it. Therefore, it is necessary to include an educational program about the food and nutrition label in the school curriculum and that will help students use the nutrition label and help them choose healthy food.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-308
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• 2002

The purposes of this study were to examine understanding, attitudes, and behaviors of college students regarding the nutrition labels of food package and the relations among these factors and demographic background such as educational experience with label, major, home place and parents' status. The study was surveyed 471 undergraduate students enrolled in general education classes at local university. Generally, college students could understand nutrition label. Nutrition related class in college didn't influence Nutrition label understanding, use and purchasing behavior. Students whose mothers with higher than college education level and professional work showed strong dependability on nutrition label. Label use, understanding and purchasing behaviors significantly associated with gender of subjects. All the subjects looked at the amount of sodium most frequently among all the nutrients listed on the food package(88.8%). Of all the food labels, the manufacturing date(25.1%) was considered the most important and the refund and exchange(12.9%) was considered the least important information. This paper suggested that nutrition education program for college students needs to be developed in series from elementary school curriculum and to enhance the use of nutrition labels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2005

This study was carried out to establish the consumer-centric food labeling system by investigating usage state, importance evaluation, problems and satisfaction, etc. on the current food labeling system by consumer. For usage state of checking the food label, 50.2% of respondents were replied ‘mostly check the label’, and they were indicated a significant difference on ‘education level(p<.05)’, and in case of married respondents, most were relied 'absolutely check the label', For the reason to check the food label, 61.8% of respondents were replied 'to determine whether it is stable or not', and they were indicated a significant difference on age(p<.01), marital status(p<.01), and job(p<.01). For the item considered as important things on the label of the whole food, 49.8% of respondents were replied that 'expiration and manufacture date is important', and they were indicated a significant difference(p<.001) on age, marital status, job. For item considered as important things on the label of each food, it was indicated that they considered food company as important thing in case of snack, soft drink, edible oils, and noodles, and food company in case of ice cream, and expiration and manufacture date in case of milk product and meat product. For the problems on the current food labeling system, the clauses 'Poor marking on food additives and materials contents' and 'untrue marking of nutrition contents' were indicated a significant difference on age(p<0.05, p<0.001), and the clause 'untrue marking of nutrition contents' were indicated a significant difference on marital status(p<.01) and job(p<.01).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1801-1810
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate food-nutrition labeling perception and utilization classified by age in Busan. The survey was conducted from March 26 to April 30, 2008 by questionnaires and data analyzed by SPSS program. The results are summarized as follows: reasons for purchase of the processed food was 'delicious' in elementary school children and middle & high school students, but was 'easy to eat and cook' in the adults groups (p<0.001). The criteria for choice of the processed foods was 'taste' in all of the subjects. Eighty seven point five percent of the over 60's do not know about food labeling and 70.1% of them did not check the food label. The first confirmed items for buying the processed foods was 'expiration date' in all of the subjects (71.1%). In elementary school children, middle & high school students, 20's & 30's group, the ratio of awareness of nutrition label was higher than the 40's & 50's and over 60's group. For reading of nutrition label, all of the subjects except elementary group replied 'often' (p<0.001). For the experience of education and publicity on food-nutrition labeling, 54.3% of the subjects replied 'often', and there was a significant difference by age. For the necessity of education and publicity on food-nutrition labeling, 49.5% of the subjects replied 'necessary'. There was significant positive correlation between degree of checking of nutrition label and degree of checking of food label, accuracy of knowledge of processed food, necessity of education and publicity. Therefore, education and publicity on food-nutrition labeling for the subjects are required to encourage them to choose more nutritious food and have healthier dietary pattern.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.725-733
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• 2010

This study examined the understanding and use of information on nutrition labels based on one serving size among female consumers above the age of 20 in Seoul area. According to the survey, 69.9% of respondents were aware of the current system of nutrition labeling based on one serving size, and 51.8% of the respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with the system because the nutrition labels were difficult to understand or appeared unreliable. The nutrition label literacy of the consumers varied with respect to different packaging units. The respondents were likely to be less accurate in calculating the expected caloric intake when only portions of a multi-serving package were used. Initially 69.0% of respondents reported that they had read the nutrition label before purchasing a product but 91.9% of respondents said that they would check the label after learning how to read the label properly. It is very important to make consumers aware that the labels are very reliable sources of nutrition information. A public education campaign on the use of nutrition labels should focus on developing the consumers' ability and skills in using the label information when choosing foods.

• Food Industry And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2015