A Study on the General and Nutritional Information of Children's Preference Foods Sold in the Middle.High School Stores

중.고등학교 내 매점에서 판매되는 어린이 기호식품의 현황 및 영양정보에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data for better safety control over children's preference foods sold in school stores. The survey was conducted from June to July 2009, to collect 749 types of children's preference foods sold in 150 middle and high school stores nation-wide excluding Jeju Island and general and nutrition information were analyzed. Out of 749 types of snack food items, 689 and 602 snacks were sold at high school and middle school stores respectively. Among children's preference foods, cookies, bread, and ice-cream were the main items. Among them, 98% of snacks were domestic products and the price range of each individual snacks were mostly between 600 and 900 won. 27.8% of children's preference foods sold were found to be in the high calorie/low nutrition food group. Even though the proportion of candy and fruit/vegetable beverages sold were not high, their proportion in high calorie/low nutrition snack group were higher than 68.1%. Among the children's preference foods sold in middle and high school stores, carbonated drinks and ramen were continuously sold in certain middle and high schools, even though sales were prohibited. This study concludes that government, corporations and retailers should work together in developing healthier children's snack distribution environment. In addition, dairy products, which take up 15% of children's preference food, should be diversified to meet their nutrient requirements.