• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.312-329
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• 2018

This study was conducted to compare the awareness, satisfaction, and usage patterns of female-consumers for food-nutrition labeling in Busan. The survey was conducted from April 15 to June 10, 2018 by questionnaire. Degree of perception of food-nutrition labeling was higher among individuals in their 30s, 40s and 50s than those in their 20s, 60s and 70s. The score of verification degree was highest among respondents in their 40s and lowest among those in their 20s and 70s. Degree of demand of individuals in their 70s was lower than that of those in their 60s. Degree of reliability of individuals in their 30s, 40s and 50s was higher than that of those in their 20s, 60s, 70s. Satisfaction degree did not differ significantly among groups. Overall the most common reason to review food labeling was 'to confirm expiry date' (30.8%). Among those in their 20s, the main reason for reviewing nutrition labeling was 'weight control', while it was 'nutrients' among those in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, and 'health improvement' among those in their 70s. Additionally, 51.3% of the subjects reported that the major reason for difficulty understanding the labeling was 'small letter, various form'. The demand for nutrient contents was highest in sodium. Age was negatively correlated with perception of food-nutrition labeling, demand, need for education and publicity, and nutrition knowledge (P<0.01), whereas it was positively correlated with dietary attitude (P<0.01). There was a strong correlation between demand for food-nutrition labeling and the need for education and publicity regarding food-nutrition labeling (r=0.546). Therefore, education materials and improvement plans based on age should be developed and implemented to inspire individuals to choose more nutritious food and develop a healthy dietary life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.636-643
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate school dietitians' perception on nutrition labelling of processed and packaged foods in the Incheon area. This study was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire and the subjects were 203 school dietitians. The results were summarized as follows. Most of the subjects checked nutrition labeling of processed and packaged foods when they purchased these foods for school lunch. However, the main reason for their checking nutrition labeling of processed and packaged foods was not for nutrition but for food safety. There were significant differences in the subjects' understanding and trust on nutrition labeling of processed and packaged foods by employment school. The scores of the subjects' satisfaction, understanding and trust on nutrition labeling of processed and packaged foods were not high. There were significant differences in the subjects' perception and concern about content information on nutrition labeling of domestic processed and packaged foods by employment school. Most of the subjects answered that it is almost necessary or very necessary to implement nutrition labelling of processed and packaged foods. Also their most preferred method of nutrition labelling was to label nutrient content. As the most important nutrient and functional component necessary for nutrition labelling, they answered energy, mineral such as calcium and iron, protein, total fat, cholesterol, vitamin, sodium and dietary fiber in order. As the major prerequisite task for the implementation of nutrition labelling, they answered formulation of nutrition labelling-related rules, and education and motivation for consumer, Therefore, it is necessary to activate the mandatory nutrition labelling of the processed and packaged foods and to prepare its consumer education program for school dietitian.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1107-1118
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes in perception concerning nutrition labeling and students' availability of processed foods and is to investigate parents' awareness of nutrition labeling through the 'Education program on safety management of children's dietary life' conducting directly to the fifth grade elementary school students (4,105 persons) by the nutrition teacher in each school. The part that checked when purchasing processed food before and after the students' education, the name of manufacturer (p<0.05), raw material and content (p<0.001), food additives (p<0.001), nutritive components (p<0.05) etc. were significantly improved. An idea about nutrition labeling has increased after the education, the question items in 'it is reliable' (p<0.001), 'satisfied' (p<0.01) were significantly increased particularly. In spite of one time education, it showed positive changes such as it can be possible to get desired nutrition information. Thus, although it was one time training conducted in the situation that can not be carried out formal education due to school environment, a variety of practical education of children's dietary life is required targeting comprehensive senior students, the education is considered to be conducted for children as well as parents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 2015

The purpose of menu labeling is to offer eating environments with improved healthy food selection. Similar to U.S. policies, the Korea government enforces the Special Act on Children's Food Safety and Nutrition for provision of nutritional labeling in chain restaurants. Considering the importance of dining services for college students and their interests in health, this study examined college students' perception toward nutrition information provided by university dining services. A survey was conducted for university students. Students' recognition of nutrition information for university dining services was lower than recognition of nutrition information for commercial food services. The most common reason cited by students for considering nutrition information of university dining services was customer rights, followed by health maintenance. Students showed a high tendency to use nutrition information of university dining services. College students' motivation for knowing nutrition information of university dining services included health and value interests. Students' knowledge of nutrition had a positive effect on their intention to know nutrition information. The findings of this study offer university administrators and contract food service management companies directions for developing menu labeling for university dining services.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.106-119
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine restaurant customers' use of menu labeling and their perception of menu labeling attributes. Further, the study investigated relations of menu labeling use behavior, and perception of menu labeling attributes with behavioral intentions toward menu labeling. Using a self-administered survey conducted for 2 weeks from the 2nd week of October, 2015, data were collected from restaurant customers who were exposed to menu labeling over 3 months at the time of the survey. A total of 426 respondents completed the survey. Respondents were asked about use of menu labeling, usefulness, ease of understanding, accuracy, and demographic information. There was a difference in menu labeling use behavior according to age, whereas respondents aged 50 years or over showed significantly higher use of menu labeling than those in 20s (P<0.001). Perceptions of menu labeling attributes positively affected behavioral intentions towards menu labeling. While all three menu labeling attributes, 'usefulness', 'ease of understanding', and 'accuracy', were positive factors for behavioral intentions towards menu labeling, usefulness was the biggest attribute explaining behavioral intentions (P<0.001). The study findings offer implications that can be applied to academics, the foodservice industry, and government in an attempt to nurture a healthy eating environment through provision of nutritional information at restaurants.

• 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.14 no.3
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• pp.286-297
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study compared the perception of customers from Korea and the U.S. on the attributes of different formats of menu labeling The specific objectives were 1) to compare the customers' perceived usefulness, ease-of-understanding, clarity, and attractiveness of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S.; and 2) to compare the customers' use intention to different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A survey was conducted in Korea and the U.S. The participants were allocated randomly to view 1 of the 7 restaurant menus that varied according to the following types of menu labeling formats: (type 1) kcal format, (type 2) traffic-light format, (type 3) percent daily intake (%DI) format, (type 4) kcal + traffic-light format, (type 5) kcal + %DI format, (type 6) traffic-light + %DI format, and (type 7) kcal + traffic-light + %DI format. A total of 279 Koreans and 347 Americans were entered in the analysis. An independent t-test and 1-way analysis of variance were performed. RESULTS: Koreans rated type 4 format (kcal + traffic light) the highest for usefulness and attractiveness. In contrast, Americans rated type 7 (kcal + traffic light + %DI) the highest for usefulness, ease-of-understanding, attractiveness, and clarity. Significant differences were found in the customers' perceived attributes to menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans perceived higher for all the 4 attributes of menu labeling than Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: The study is unique in identifying the differences in the attributes of different formats of menu labeling between Korea and the U.S. Americans rated the most complicated type of menu labeling as the highest perception for the attributes, and showed a higher use intention of menu labeling than Koreans. This study contributes to academia and industry for practicing menu labeling in different countries using different formats.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of food allergies in Korean children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 10.9% in 1995 to 12.6% in 2012 according to nationwide population studies. Treatment for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic-related foods and epinephrine auto-injector (EPI) for accidental allergic reactions. This study compared knowledge and perception of food allergy labeling and dietary practices of students. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the fourth to sixth grade students from an elementary school in Yongin. A total of 437 response rate (95%) questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food allergy among respondents was 19.7%, and the most common food allergy-related symptoms were urticaria, followed by itching, vomiting and nausea. Food allergens, other than 12 statutory food allergens, included cheese, cucumber, kiwi, melon, clam, green tea, walnut, grape, apricot and pineapple. Children with and without food allergy experience had a similar level of knowledge on food allergies. Children with food allergy experience thought that food allergy-related labeling on school menus was not clear or informative. CONCLUSION: To understand food allergies and prevent allergic reactions to school foodservice among children, schools must provide more concrete and customized food allergy education.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.544-551
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• 2014

This study investigated customer perception of nutrition labeling at fast-food restaurants in Korea. Five hundred and fourteen customers with previous experience at fast-food restaurants were surveyed in July 2012 in Korea. A total of 502 completed questionnaires were analyzed (98.0%). The questionnaires asked about the general characteristics of the subjects, their perceptions and opinions of nutrition labeling at fast-food restaurants, any nutrients they would like to see included in nutrition labels, and their preferred nutrition labeling methods at fast-food restaurants. Of the respondents, 59.4% were male and 40.6% were female; 42.4% indicated that they eat at fast-food restaurants two to three times a month. Half of respondents (54.2%) knew of nutrition labeling of fast-food restaurants, with females being more aware than males. Males trusted nutrition labeling at fast-food restaurants more than females did, and more males than females responded that nutrition labeling helps when selecting healthy menu items. As for satisfaction with nutrition labeling at fast-food restaurants, males were more satisfied than females, and customers between 30 and 39 years old showed the highest rates of satisfaction. Calories was the criterion that most respondents (66.3%) wished to pre-displayed, followed by sodium and trans fat levels. Respondents mostly preferred nutrition labels at fast-food restaurants to be in the form of symbolic icons (36.5%). The results of this study can help shape the application of nutrition labeling at fast-food restaurants and can be used to help establish guidelines for nutritional education for customers in Korea.