• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.239-254
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• 2010

This study investigated the use and understanding of food and nutrition labels in 498 female adolescents (middle school students: MS 248, high school students: HS 250) in Gyeonggi-do. Fifty percent of the MS and 47.2% of the HS read food labels, and the most common reasons for reading labels were to find a product's expiration date and price. The food label information considered most important by the subjects was the name of the manufacturing company and expiration date. Over 80% of the subjects read nutrition labels. The MS read nutrition labels to find nutrients and their amounts in foods, while the HS read labels mostly in an effort to control body weight. These subjects gave more attention to calories and fat, the nutrients related to body weight, than to other nutrients. The subjects were highly aware of the necessity and positive effects of nutrition labels, because they believed labels could make it easier for them to choose healthy foods. However, scores for understanding nutrition labels showed the subjects failed to understand label information accurately. Generally, the MS showed better dietary behaviors than HS. But the HS had significantly higher scores than MS for the item "know relative weight with height." Those that read food labels had significantly better BMIs, dietary behaviors, and awareness and understanding of nutrition labels. There were significant positive relationships among awareness & understanding of nutrition labels and subjects' dietary behaviors. The study findings can be utilized to better plan nutrition education programs aiming to improve use and awareness of food and nutrition labels among adolescents.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examines the effect on the frequency of ramyeon consumption based on who checks nutrition labels and on the levels of sodium-related nutrition knowledge among middle school students in the Incheon area. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 359 students (143 males and 216 females) from May to October 2021. General information as well as ramyeon-eating behaviors were surveyed. The frequency of ramyeon consumption was compared depending on who checks nutrition labels and on the amount of sodium-related nutrition knowledge students have. Both 𝛘² tests and t-tests were conducted for categorical and mean comparisons. Results: Regarding the consumption of ramyeon, 46% of the students replied that they eat it alone at home. The criteria for choosing the kind of ramyeon to eat were taste (79.4%), price (9.2%), brand and new products (4.5%), nutrition (2.2%), weight control (2.2%), and other factors (2.5%). When purchasing ramyeon, more students replied that they did not read nutrition labels (66.0%) compared to those who did read labels (34.0%). Answers to questions on sodium-related nutrition earned an average of 6.84 out of nine points (males, 6.72 points, females, 6.91 points, ns). The average frequency of ramyeon consumption was 1.67 times per week (males, 1.66, females, 1.68, ns). The frequency of ramyeon consumption by students who checked nutrition labels was lower than for students who did not check labels (1.44 times per week vs. 1.79 times per week, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Students who checked nutrition labels reported a lower frequency of ramyeon consumption than students who did not check them. Education on checking nutrition labels may reduce the consumption of processed foods such as ramyeon and may lead to making healthy choices when purchasing food.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.220-230
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate consumer preferred formats of nutrition labels: the type of nutritional information provided on the labels. A survey was conducted on 222 housewives between the age of 20 and 65 in Daejeon city in 1998, using an interview questionnaire showing illustrated nutritional label formats. Among twelve nutrients and caloric values listed on the nutrition labels, the housewives ranked their interest in the items in the following order of calorie (58.56%), calcium (56.76%), cholesterol (54.05%), protein (39.19%) and vitamin C (36.04%). The majority of the subjects (69.37%) checked labels when they bought milk or dairy products, whereas only 8.11% looked at labels when they bought Ramyon or noodles. Most of the subjects (90.99%) preferred products with labels with nutritional information as compared with products without labels. this was especially so true of the younger individuals and of pc-ople who checked food labels more frequently. The subjects preferred labeling which described the nutrient content per Package (55.41%), sewing size (32.88%) and food weight of 1009 (11.71%) as a standard nit. Generally, they prefer-red a simplified list to a detailed list of the number of nutrients, a figure graph to bar graph in nutrition claim, vertical bar graph to horizontal bar graph showing the nutritional content of foods and a web-type graphic format to a radiation-format when describing the item's percentage of the Korean RDA's nutrient content. The subjects who checked labels frequently especially preferred detailed list, while housewives with job or with unhealthy family members preferred a simplified list and graphic, rather than a numerical display. From this result, it is suggested that providing consumers with more nutrients information in a more easily understood graphic format would encourage the consumers to check nutritional labels. Therefore this should be considered when developing the regulations far nutrition labeling or when educating the Public about nutrition. (Korean J Community Nutrition 8(2) : 220∼230, 2003)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.417-428
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• 2011

To promote use of nutrition labels, degrees of awareness, use, and satisfaction of nutrition labeling on eating-out menus were investigated by a self-recorded questionnaire from May to July 2010 in 629 participants who visited four bakery chains (n=409) and three ice-cream chains (n=220) located in Daejeon. Of the subjects 53.4% were female, 68.8% aged 20~29 years, and 59.3% visited bakery or ice-cream stores 1~3 times per month. Only 38.2% of participants had knowledge of nutrition-labeling mandates for eating-out menus, and 74.9% had seen labels before in bakery and ice-cream stores. Most subjects understood calorie amount and daily value of sodium very well, but they failed to understand the meaning of daily value. Only 21.2% of the subjects understood nutrition label information completely. Of the participants, 46.7% read nutrition labels in bakery or ice-cream stores when purchasing. Among the subjects who read the labels, 77.2% (36.1% of total subjects) referred to the label information when selecting a menu and 46.9% (21.9% of total subjects) had experienced altering their menu choice based on the information. Exactly 53.3% of subjects answered they did not read nutrition labels since they were not interested or had no time, or because the labels were not noticeable. Satisfaction of the place, timing, and format of nutrition labels at bakery and ice-cream stores fell below average overall. Many subjects wanted trans fat and cholesterol to be added to the labels. In conclusion, degrees of perception, use, and satisfaction of nutrition labels at bakery and ice-cream stores were still low. More effective publicity and consumer education about nutrition labeling will be necessary, and bakery or ice-cream companies should make efforts to improve nutrition labeling such as providing format and place.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of nutrition label use and its association with demographic, weight control related factors, and diet among female adults in the Seoul area. Also, the study subjects' comprehension of nutrition labels was examined using objective measures. 279 females, between ages of 20 and 49, participated in this study. 66% of the participants reported to always or often use nutrition labels when purchasing foods. Nutrition label use was significantly higher among participants who were interested in losing weight and have more knowledge on nutrition, but significantly lower among subjects who were underweight (p < 0.05). Label users had higher fruit consumption and lower intake of fatty foods and snacks (p < 0.01). Only 20% of participants answered correctly regarding questions about the total amount of calories and fats contained in the entire food package tested, and only 15% answered correctly on questions about understanding of the % daily value. Comprehension of nutrition labels were significantly lower among participants who were less educated, underweight, and married (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study suggests that proper use of nutrition labels may improve food choices and enable healthy dietary practices. Further efforts are needed to provide public a nutrition education program on how to read nutrition labels. Modifications of nutrition labels to make it easier to understand by the public should also be considered.

• 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 Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.492-500
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• 2010

This study conducted a questionnaire survey of 482 male and female second graders in middle schools located in Cheongju, Chungcheongbukdo. This study lays its purpose on establishing the nutrition facts labeling system by understanding eating habits and analyzing the actual state of reading nutrition facts labels and degrees of understanding them among middle school students, and helping them to engage in right food purchasing activities and through it result in developing sound eating habits by providing them with basic material to be employed to actively utilize nutrition facts for choosing and buying healthy foods. As a result of surveying regarding the actual state of reading food labels, regarding degrees of recognition of food labels, it was revealed that 91.1% of female students recognized them, while 42.1% of male students did not recognize them, indicating lower levels of recognition among the male group. Regarding reasons for not checking food labels, 49.2% indicated habitual purchasing, followed by poor contents in the label(20.2%), ununderstandable contents(17.7%), and the lower reliability of the contents(6.9%). As a result of surveying regarding the actual state of reading nutrition facts labels, in recognition of nutrition facts labels, female rather than male students showed higher degrees of recognition, and degrees of recognition were found to differ according to parents' total income and mothers' educational attainments.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.387-402
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary behaviors, processed food preferences, and awareness levels of nutrition labels among female university students living in middle region by breakfast eating. A total of 243 students (breakfast eating group: 153, breakfast skipping group: 90) were surveyed from April to May of 2011. The results are summarized as follows: Skipping breakfast (SB) group had a significantly higher frequency of skipping lunch and dinner compared with the eating breakfast (EB) group (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). In the EB group, food labels were identified sometimes (31.8%), frequently (29.1%), and rarely (28.5%). In the SB group, food labels were identified rarely (33.3%), sometimes (27.8%), and frequently (26.7%). The EB group used food labels for comparing price and weight of products more frequently than the SB group (P<0.05). In the EB group, nutrition labels were identified sometimes (38.0%), frequently (28.1%), and rarely (24.8%). In the SB group, nutrition labels were identified rarely (32.6%), sometimes (30.3%), and frequently (21.4%). The EB group used food labels for identifying nutrient contents more often and for weight control more less than the SB group (P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively). The main reason for not identifying nutrition label of the processed foods was 'not being interested (55.5%)' in the SB group (P<0.05). Therefore, education programs that emphasize the importance of eating breakfast, and reading food and nutrition labels need to be developed for university students.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.858-865
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• 2015

The study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of current nutrition labeling of processed foods and examine awareness among university students of nutrition information given current nutrition labels, and also awareness of the one-serving size of snacks that come in differently sized packages. A total of 100 students in Chungbuk, Korea participated in this study. About 60% of the subjects knew about nutrition labeling; however, a very small percentage (11%) of the subjects reported an experience of being educated about nutrition labeling. Also, just 32% of the students checked nutrition labels when they purchased processed foods. When understanding of nutrition information on labels of snacks in differently sized packaging was tested, over 80% of the subjects understood nutrition information accurately. Five different package sizes were studied. Of these 5, packages containing about 200% of one standard serving showed the highest rate of misunderstanding of total energy contents per container. Interestingly, the students most strongly preferred containers that contained 300% of one standard serving. From these results, we conclude that students consider the current recommendation for a serving size to be small, which may be related to misreading of nutrition labels of snacks that come in packages containing less than 300% of one standard serving size. To improve accurate understanding of nutrition labels of snacks, total package labels or dual column labels on packages containing less than 300% of one standard serving size should be considered.