Consumption of Milk and Milk Products

우유(牛乳) 및 유제품(乳製品)의 소비행동(消費行動0에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

To determine patterns of preference for and consumption of milk and milk products in Seoul city, a study was conducted of 724 girls and 587 boys ranging in age from elementary school to collage level, from July to August, 1974. Findings are summarized as follows: In general, milk and milk products were liked by both children and adults. A contrasting low tendency to purchase such products was due to socioeconomics, habitual, and educational factors, as well as a lack of adequate nutritional information, especially with regard to milk. Knowledge of the value of milk as a source of calcium was lacking, especially among boys. The majority of homemakers understood that milk was nutritious, but not specifically as the best source of calcium for their families. Milk, especially in beverage form, was commonly regarded as food for the infant and small child. Grandparents would not drink it. Such a beliefe is similar to that found in under-developed or developing nations. The need for nutrition education must be emphasized. Milk and milk products are expensive foods, particularly for the low income family; but even in higher income levels, consumption was limited. Milk was consumed mostly by the younger family members, less by the older. Among the children, preference, knowledge, and concern with the nutritional value of milk increased with age of subjects. It is presumed that awareness improved with increasing length of school education. Greater frequency of milk intolerance was found with decreasing age of respondents: about 10 percent had some form of milk intolerance. This percentage will be found to be much higher in villages where milk is less familiar. This study indicated that respondents liked ice cream best of all the milk products. For beverage, they preferred cider and cola in summer, coffee and milk in winter. Smaller families consumed more milk than larger families. Household consumption of condensed milk was very low, mostly as coffeemate. Among households interviewed, as many had regular as irregular delivery of dairy milk. Average consumption ranged 0.5 to 1.5 Hop. Engel indices of these families ranged 20 to 60. Use of milk at home was very simple. Not many methods of preparation were found. The milk was used mostly as beverage. In order to improve the nutritional level of Korean children and adults who especially need additional calcium, milk and milk products are recommended as the best source of calcium. Nutrition education of children and their parents should receive greater emphasis.