• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.349-364
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study used the Analytic Hierarchy Process to evaluate the relative importance of the factors that school nutrition teachers and dietitians consider during menu planning for school foodservices across various educational levels. Methods: An online survey was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024. The hierarchical structure for school foodservice menu management was developed through content analysis, consisting of five high-level categories and 3-4 low-level factors. Questionnaires were distributed to 395 nutrition teachers and dietitians from kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. One hundred and sixty-six responses were received, resulting in a 42.0% return rate. These responses were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS Statistics. Results: The most commonly referenced sources for school foodservice menu planning were 'menus obtained from websites' (19.4%). The most significant challenge encountered was 'incorporating students' preferences' (18.6%). In the hierarchy of categories considered for school foodservice menu management, 'employees and facilities' ranked highest (0.2347), followed by 'preference' (0.2312), 'nutrition balance' (0.2027), 'cooking process' (0.1726), and 'food materials' (0.1588). Within each category, the top-ranked factors were 'employees' cooking skills' (0.3759), 'students' preferences' (0.4310), 'dietary reference intakes' (0.4968), 'foodservice hygiene' (0.4374), and 'food costs' (0.4213). The study also compared the relative importance of factors according to the educational levels, and the top-ranked factors were the same across all educational levels. In particular, 'students' preferences', 'dietary reference intake', and 'food costs' aligned with the top three challenges in school foodservice menu planning. Conclusion: Enhancing working conditions for school foodservice employees and developing menu planning methods that accommodate students' preferences are necessary. These findings will provide foundational data for future school foodservice menu management strategies.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.67-84
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to explore the status of food service outsourcing behavior of long-term care institutions (LTCIs) through a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire administered between July 16th and August 7th, 2020. The survey respondents were either dietitians or facility managers, who worked at 731 nursing homes, 477 group homes, and 673 day-care centers. Approximately 25.9% of nursing homes, 11.7% of group homes, and 33.1% of day-care centers used a managed-services company to operate their food service units. The main reason for outsourcing food service by nursing homes was related to the staffing of dietitians and cooks, whereas group homes and day-care centers outsourced food services due to factors relating to meal costs and the cooking process. Almost all the LTCIs entered into private contracts for outsourced food services. Only a few food service contracts included the types of meals, nutrition standards such as protein and calories per meal, and the parameter or ratio of food cost. Of the respondents, 84.5% from nursing homes, 87.5% from group homes, and 87.1% from day-care centers agreed that the quality of outsourced food services of the LTCIs should be regulated. Meals are essential for maintaining the health and functional status of LTCI users. As more LTCIs outsource their food services, we suggest the following: (1) Increasing the minimum dietitian staffing standards for LTCIs as per the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act and requiring at least one dietitian for every nursing home, (2) Making it mandatory to use a standard food service contract template when drafting food service contract, and (3) Developing realistic standards for food service operations considering the size and operation type of the LTCIs.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.44 no.8
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to estimate the minimum monthly food cost for the low income population. The food consumption data of 9,311 individuals from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey was used. The monthly food cost was calculated using the Consumer Food Price Database for the year 2001 provided by the Public Health Nutrition Laboratory, Seoul National University. The low income population (n = 1,310) was characterized as older age, lower income, smaller family size, lower education level, and lower energy intake as compared with the total population (n = 8,001). The estimated food cost showed that men in the low income population needed 15% more money for purchasing food to maintain the energy intake level at the average energy intake level of men in the total population. It was also estimated that women in the low income population needed 9% more money for purchasing food to maintain the energy intake level at the average energy intake level of women in the total population. There were differences in monthly food costs depending on the sex and age, and family size. The results of this study could be used as basic information to establish minimum food cost for the low income population in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2006

We propose an Agricultural Infrastructure Expansion Plan (AIEP) for North Korea following unification from the standpoint of a united Korea's social stability. We predict the food demand after unification, according to four different development scenarios based on the AIEP. These scenarios include meeting a self-sufficient level in the staple food crop, satisfying long-term food supply and demand for the North Korean people, achieving a level of North Korean food consumption comparable to that of South Korea, and maintaining productivity to stabilize of North Korea's rural society. We present the results of a 'benefit-cost' analysis in meeting the production targets of predicted food demands after unification from a civil engineering perspective. We found that the estimated total costs would range from 15.2 to 43.0 billion dollars depending on the particular AIEP scenario. In our analysis, all of the four scenarios presented above demonstrated a high degree of economic validity. We conclude that the AIEP is a necessary and economically valid project for a united Korea's future because it would forestall the collapse of North Korea's rural communities, thereby preventing tremendous economic losses upon unification.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2017

Subsidies are an instrumental policy making tool for many governments, but their importance depends on the market situation of the national economy. Efficient subsidy implementation would allow the government to correct market failure thereby aligning social and private costs and benefit. The general objective of this study is to justify the need to rationalise subsidies for food items such as flour. This study assessed the structure and conducts of the general purpose flour market in Malaysia; and analysed the impact of subsidies on market performance to recommend policies to increase market efficiency under the subsidy rationalisation program. To accomplish these objectives, the study adopted a microeconomics market analysis as well as the standard structure and performance analysis method. These two approaches showed the characteristics of an industry's consumer behaviour, competition, as well as the efficiency associated with government regulatory policies on the flour industry. One of the biggest influences on the domestic market is related to the food consumption behaviour of the general population. Food consumption behaviour reflects global trends. As income rises, food trends tend to be consumed in processed form or in such a way that adds value in another manner such as the preparation of food products.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.96-107
• /
• 2024

Objectives: While several food assistance programs in the United States tackle food insecurity, a relatively new program, "Food is Medicine," (FIM) initiated in some cities not only addresses food insecurity but also targets chronic diseases by customizing the food delivered to its recipients. This review describes federal programs providing food assistance and evaluates the various sub-programs categorized under the FIM initiative. Methods: A literature search was conducted from July 7, 2023 to November 9, 2023 using the search term, "Food is Medicine", to identify articles indexed within three major electronic databases, PubMed, Medline, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Eligibility criteria for inclusion were: focus on any aspect of the FIM initiative within the United States, and publication as a peer-reviewed journal article in the English language. A total of 180 articles were retrieved; publications outside the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded for a final list of 72 publications. Supporting publications related to food insecurity, governmental and organizational websites related to FIM and other programs discussed in this review were also included. Results: The FIM program includes medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions. Data suggest that it has lowered food insecurity, promoted better management of health, improved health outcomes, and has, therefore, lowered healthcare costs. Conclusions: Overall, this umbrella program is having a positive impact on communities that have been offered and participate in this program. Limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to ensure its success are discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.387-396
• /
• 2018

This study examined the instability factor of real income and net profits of Chung-yang Green Pepper Farm through an analysis of the operating costs. Furthermore, this paper suggests a plan for stabilizing the price by shipment adjustments resulting from an analysis of the price elasticity by A Linear Approximated Inverse Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/IAIDS). The income instability factor of the farm based on an analysis of the operating costs was attributed to the unexpected loading of utility expenses and collapse of the price due to oversupply at a specific point in time. On the other hand, this is insufficient to completely explain the income instability factor of Chung-yang Green Pepper Farm because a price collapse does not include the monthly price changes. An analysis of the price and scale flexibility of Chung-yang Green Pepper Farm by monthly data showed that annual farm net yield increases by 1.21% due to a 2.21% increase in price if the shipment quantity is reduced to 1% a year. In summary, a plan that supports the farm price received through declining shipments in winter is effective in stabilizing the income of farms. Because Chung-yang Green Pepper in Gyeongnam region has an especially high market share of 82.5%, the prices and income of Gyeongnam Chung-yang Green Pepper farms can be stabilized effectively if they form an association of producers around the Gyeongnam region and adjust the shipment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.48-53
• /
• 2017

One of the policies of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Food and Livestock aims to export $10 billion worth of products. Although it was not easy to achieve the export goal of $ 6.5 billion in 2016, the policy should be pursued continuously. Accordingly, a facility modernization project and high-tech greenhouse project are being implemented to facilitate exports. Moreover, it is possible to consider substitution of imports in the policy shift. Imports of temperate and tropical fresh fruits totaled 1.2 trillion won in 2016. Accordingly, identification of alternatives to tropical and temperate fresh fruit imports will enable farm income to increase and the fresh fruit industry to grow. The major obstacle to tropical fruit production in Korea is high heating costs. However, Jeju Island apple mango farmers found that using non-taxable kerosene and hot water from power plants could reduce heating costs by 42.5%. Indeed, using hot wastewater can reduce heating costs by more than 40%. To improve competition with imported fruits, farmers can change their heating systems using financial support plans (e.g., 20% government subsidies, 20% loans, 30% subsidies from local governments). The income effect and import substitution effect of fruit tree farmers should be carefully analyzed in the future and the study will be closed to discuss the policy direction.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.399-412
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to analyze consumers' behaviors and reactions to the use-by date labeling system and provide policy implications for its efficient implementation, by utilizing 213 consumers data conducted via an Internet survey using the Google online form. We refer "pure consumption date" as the period that have passed sell-by date yet have not passed use-by date. Consumers' willingness to accept (WTA) for pure consumption date food was surveyed, which means the discount ratio of pure consumption date food compared to the original price by sell-by date. Setting the expected effects of use-by date labeling system as five: food waste reduction (waste), food purchasing cost reduction (cost), and international standardization (standard), etc., Tobit regression result showed waste had the greatest (negative) impact on consumer's WTA, while cost and standard had positive impact on consumer's WTA. The logistic regression result revealed that consumers trying to reduce grocery costs have higher probability to purchase use-by date labeling food, and further expect higher WTA. Also consumers valuing the importance of environmental protection or food quality are more likely to purchase use-by date food. Conversely consumers valuing food safety importance tend to have negative impact on purchasing use-by date food, hence expect higher WTA. It is noteworthy that consumers valuing the importance of promoting the use-by date labeling system have significantly higher probability of purchasing use-by date food. Additionally, consumers' WTA averaged 54.3%, implying that consumers are willing to purchase use-by date food when it is discounted more than 54.3% from the original price, where women expect higher WTA, the aged over 60 expect higher WTA, furthermore single-parent households expect 21.3% higher than the average WTA. However, old-aged, unmarried women, higher educated and higher income groups were negative in purchasing use-by date food. These results suggest that customized sales policy and effective promotion strategies reflecting socio-demographic characteristics of consumers would be necessary to achieve effective implementation of the newly introduced system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.9
• /
• pp.1374-1387
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the operational status of youth facilities as well as the degree of students' satisfaction with menus served at youth facilities. The survey was conducted from July 9 to July 31, 2013 using questionnaires. The responses of 55 youth facilities and 249 students who had experienced foodservice at youth facilities were analyzed, utilizing the SPSS V20.0 program. The results on management status of youth facilities were as follows: 41.8% of youth facilities were operated for over 10 years, and 45.5% of facilities served meals for 100 to 200 students per day on average. Meal costs were 4,450 won on average, and food costs accounted for 46.8% of average meal costs. Exactly 78.2% of facilities preserved storage type meals at a temperature under -18 degrees Celsius for more than 144 hours, as the 'Food Sanitation Act' stated. Exactly 12.7% of facilities did not hire professional dietitians and had unsupervised foodservice management. Among 19 kitchen equipments surveyed in this research, Combi steamer was the least frequent at youth facilities. According to the results, most students (38.7%) ate leftovers since the food was not tasty. Overall foodservice satisfaction was on average 3.45 points, and the four factors 'dining room sanitation' (P<0.05), 'food taste' (P<0.01), 'serving various desserts' (P<0.01) and 'temperature of dining room' (P<0.05), significantly affected overall satisfaction. As food taste was critical for customer satisfaction, it is important for each dietitian to consider customers' preferences and develop recipes and menus. Further, detailed regulation and precise guidelines for youth facility foodservice are required to enhance students' foodservice satisfaction and serve nutritionally balanced menus in a hygienic manner.