• 대한영양사협회학술지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.123-137
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current nutritional labeling practices in the processed foods industry. Package labels provide consumers with reliable nutritional information, which has been considered a useful aid for food selection and a potent educational tool for nutrition in a daily life. To assess the nutritional composition labeling and nutritional claims on the food package labels in the Korean market, 2,691 processed foods were purchased from a wholesale market in August, 2004, under the food categories specified in the 2004 Food Code. Nutritional composition labels were found on 674 out of the 2,691 processed foods items. The study findings were as follows. Milk and dairy products showed the highest percentage(56.6%) of nutritional composition labeling among the food categories, while 86.2% of processed foods carried inappropriate types of nutrition labels. The title of nutritional composition labeling was ordered according to the nutritional composition presented on the top part of the box. The regulations method which it indicates was 77.8%. The expression unit of the nutritional composition labeling was per 100g(32.8%) or per OOg (29.4%). Of total processed foods, 83(3.1%) offered nutritional claims in their labels. These claims were divided into two ways: nutrient content claims and nutrient comparative claims. The most frequently used term in nutrient content claims was "contained"(67.2%). "More" or "Plus" were frequently used term in nutrient comparative claims(11.2%). Calcium was the most popular among nutrients claimed by processed foods(34.3%).

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.424-432
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Most consumers are able to recognize allergenic foods. However, the frequency of checking such foods is reportedly low, resulting in higher prevalence of food-related allergic reactions in Korea compared to other countries. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the overall perception of allergenic food labeling and its practice level in food manufacturing company employees. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The survey was administered to food safety employees and food development teams at food companies located in metropolitan areas. A total of 399 (93.8%) valid samples were used in the final analysis. Statistical analyses, including Frequency Analysis, t-test, Anova, PCA (Principal Component Analysis), and Pearson Correlation Analysis using SPSS ver. 21.0, were performed. RESULTS: The correct answer rate in the analysis of allergy-related knowledge level ranged from 15.0% to 89.7%. Analysis of differences in allergy-related perception by knowledge level showed significant differences in introduction of a food recall system, strengthening of relevant laws and regulations, content labeling, description of substitutional food, and differentiated package by age. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that labeling of allergenic foods should be made easier and more convenient for checking by employees, developers, and consumers, and it is necessary to provide contents through the development of publicity, guidelines, or APP along with labeling.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.300-306
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• 2009

The goal of this research is to investigate the present situation for front of pack labeling in Korea and the perception of consumers for the new system of labeling, front of pack labeling, based on the consumer survey. We investigated the number of processed foods with front of pack labeling in one retailer in Youngin-si. And we also surveyed 1,019 participants nationwide whose ages were from 20 to 49; the knowledge of nutrition labeling, the knowledge of 'front of pack labeling', and the opinion about the labeling system. The data were analyzed using SAS statistics program. The results were as follows: 13.4% of processed foods had front of pack labeling, and 16.8% of the consumers always checked the nutrition labeling, while 32.7% of the consumers seldom checked it. In addition, 44.3% of the consumers think that 'front of pack labeling' is necessary, and 58.3% of the consumers think it is important to show the percentage of daily value as a way of 'front of pack labeling'. However, 32% of the consumer think the possibility of 'front of pack labeling' is slim. Meanwhile, 58.3% of the consumers think that it is important to have the color difference according to contents. The number of favorite nutrients in the front of pack was four or five. It seems that the recognition of current nutrition labeling has the influence on the willingness of using the future 'front of pack labeling'. Along with our study, the policy for 'front of pack labeling' has to be updated and improved constantly since 'front of pack labeling' helps consumer understand nutrition facts.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.168-177
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to improve the dietary attitudes of elementary students through nutrition labeling education. A class of fifth-grade elementary students was selected and educated for basic nutrition and reading of nutrition labeling for 8 weeks by using education materials from the KFDA. After the education, the children were subjected for the practice of reading nutrition labeling during winter vacation, and the changes in their dietary attitudes and practice were measured by using questionnaires for children and their parents along with measuring physical changes. The results were as follows: The level of nutritional knowledge was improved significantly after the education (p < 0.05). Nutrition labeling education Increased the children's frequency of reading nutrition labeling from 34.2% to 57.9% while purchasing processed foods (p < 0.05), and 92.1% of the children answered that their dietary attitudes improved by nutrition labeling education. However, no improvement in physical measurements was observed after education. This result suggested that 8-week of education were not enough to show the improvement in physical measurements, and long-term and repeated education is necessary. After the education, most children answered that they recognized the benefit of reading nutrition labeling and they would read the nutrition labeling when purchasing processed foods. Parents also recognized the necessity of nutrition labeling education in school and suggested the need of nutrition labeling be easy to read. The above results suggested that nutrition labeling education is an effective way for improving dietary attitudes of children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.100-108
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• 1997

Our current food hygiene law mandates nutrition label (NL) for the special nutrition foods, health support foods, instant foods, and foods with certain nutrient emphasized note, only. Currently more processed foods are bearing nutrition labels though the format is quite inconsistant. This study examined the status on current nutrition labeling practices for the processed foods that are retailed in the supermarket. The obtained information was assessed in the aspects of numerical data presentation on nutrients content, descriptive terms, health claim, and the format. The results are summarized as follows. 1) Foods with NL are limited to the food category specified by current hygiene law while voluntary nutition labeling is few. 2) Descriptive terms such as free, low, and sufficient are not substantiated with quantitative data. The efficacy of microelements which has not been clalified yet are overemphasized but major nutrients are ignored. 3) The regulations for the descriptive terms are set on the base of the nutrient content per 100g or 100ml under current nutrition labeling act. It would mislead consumers thus the definition for these descriptor be better set on the unit of the amount of food customary eaten at one time. For this the standard serving size should be set officially. 4) Quantitative nutrition information given on food products is difficult to compare because of the lack in formality. The title of NL, load and kinds of nutritents, order of nutrients listed, the unit of expression, RDA comparision, and reference RDA are inconsistant among the foods similar in dietary property. Uniform format is needed to give NL the credibility and usefulness. Proividing nutrition information to the consumers with NL is a worldwide practice though its efficacy has been controversial. Under newly legistered health promotion law in Korean nutrition education is esxpected to take part in to improve national nutrition condition and NL would education is expected to take part in to improve national nutrition condition and NL would be a potent tool for public nutritions education. It appears to be the time to mandate NL to all the processed foods in the market. The result of present study would initiate further consumer experiments related to NL. Various interest groups such as food and nutrition professions, public health organizations, government regulatory agencies, food producers and marketers, and consumer groups need to particepate and communicate for the legislation of NL and the development of NL format.

• 한국생활과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.179-189
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate intakes of processed food and use and understanding of food labeling by middle school students in the Chonbuk area. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 912 middle school students. Questionnaires included questions regarding general characteristics of the students, intakes of processed food, perception of food labeling, and knowledge of food labeling. Data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 statistical software. Significant differences between genders were tested by the $x^2$-test and the t-test. The frequency of processed foods being consumed at least two times per day was 31.0%, once a day was 30.5%, once a week was 26.0%, and eating rarely was 12.5%. Most frequently consumed processed foods were milk and milk products, bread and biscuits, and candy and chocolates. When the subjects bought processed foods, they read the general facts 3.1 out of 5.0 points, where the scores for females (3.2) were higher than the males (3.0) at p<.001. The subjects read the nutrition facts 2.7 out of the 5.0 points, and the scores of the females (3.0) were again higher than the males (2.5) at p<.001. The subjects recognized the necessity of general facts(3.5) and nutrition facts(3.4) of food labeling, but, only 33.9% of the subjects had received food labeling education. The accuracy rate of the food labeling knowledge of the subjects was not high, the accuracy rate ranged from 19.3% to 76.8%. Therefore, it is necessary to develop school programs for middle school students to provide education on processed foods, food labeling, general facts and nutrition facts.

• 한국지역사회생활과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.379-393
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• 2011

This study compared the college students' dietary behavior for processed foods, who will be the main consumers in the future and looked for the measures to understand and establish the right food labeling system by surveying the level of understanding and utilization of food labeling. The data was analysed by SPSS win 17.0 program, and the results are as follows. For the standard of selecting processed foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge considered the reliability of foods as important and the group with low nutrition knowledge considered the products introduced in TV commercial as important. When purchasing processed foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge considered nutrition, taste, price, appearance(shape), and the consumable period more than the group with low nutrition knowledge. For trans fat, the group with high nutrition knowledge learned more about it than the group with low nutrition knowledge. The ratio of confirming food nutrition label was higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. Regarding the level of confirming individual food labels, the highest level was for milk and dairy products. And there was significant difference for the processed products of meat, cookies, bread and noodles. It was found that the level of confirmation was higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. And the most important indication for individual food product was the consumable period. To preserve the purchased foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge preserve the foods in line with the description written on the food cover sheet, and this group used to return or exchange the products when they found them spoiled or purchased by mistake. The group with high nutrition knowledge knew more about the nutrition indication than the group with low nutrition knowledge. The necessity of nutrition indication for processed foods and the need of education and PR(Public Relation) were acknowledged higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. For the effect of nutrition indication, it showed that the group with high nutrition knowledge thought it would improve the quality and the group with low nutrition knowledge thought it would be helpful when comparing the product with others. The group with high nutrition knowledge showed higher understanding level about nutrition indication than the group with low nutrition knowledge.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.184-197
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• 2021

This study investigated the recognition and utilization status of food labeling and nutrition labeling, according to the body type recognition of university students. In a total of 351 subjects, the male subjects comprised of 25.8% belonging to the underweight awareness group, 46.3% normal weight awareness group, and 27.9% overweight awareness students. Among the female students, 29.2% belonged to the underweight awareness group, 36.6% were normal body weight, and 34.2% were the overweight group. When purchasing processed foods, the price (4.05 points), expiration date (4.03 points), and gross weight (3.88 points) were the most considered factors of the food labeling content (5 points) for all body shape recognition groups. The food labeling of canned foods was checked most by the underweight awareness group (p<0.05). For bread and snacks, the contents of food labeling were confirmed most by the normal weight awareness group and the overweight awareness group (p<0.001). For beverages, the normal weight awareness group checked more food labels (p<0.01). The underweight awareness group (55.2%) hardly checked the nutritional labeling, and 22.9% of these subjects did not check at all. Our results may provide the necessity to improve the incorrect eating habits of students, by evaluating differences between the cognitive body type and the actual body type by BMI.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.202-207
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze labeling improvements and evaluate willingness to pay for health functional foods with a focus on the caution for intake. For this study, we conducted a survey on health functional food intake behavior, confirmation and improvements of cautions for intake. We assessed the willingness to pay for improvement of the caution for intake. Consumers anticipate improved immune function, and fatigue improvement after consumption of health functional foods. They mainly checked the function components related to efficacy and effectiveness, ingredients and their contents, ingestion amount and method, expiry date and best mode of storage, product name, and cautions associated with ingestion of health functional foods. They has been difficulties in obtaining sufficient caution information for intake from the current labeling method. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the labeling of caution for intake. The analysis indicated that about 5.14% of the respondents were willing to pay more if new labeling was introduces. However, there is still controversy over their safety, which is damaging to the consumers. Therefore, by providing consumers with accurate and detailed information on cautions for intake, it can contribute to securing safety and improving the quality of health functional foods.

• 대한영양사협회학술지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.161-180
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• 2024

Social and environmental changes, such as the rise of single-person households and advances in the food industry, have led to the replacement of home-cooked meals with home meal replacements products (HMRs). This study compared the nutrient content of a total of 1,680 HMRs and 158 restaurant foods by collecting data on the nutrient content of comparable food types from the Food composition data for restaurant foods published by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and evaluating the calorie and nutrient content of HMRs based on nutrition labeling through market research from May 2022 to May 2024, focusing on rice, porridge, noodles, soup/stew. The nutritional content and price of the HMRs varied widely, even for similar foods, depending on the detailed food type. Therefore, it is necessary to make an appropriate choice based on nutrition labeling according to the purpose of consumption. The HMRs had a lower calorie and nutrient content due to the smaller serving size when compared with restaurant foods. However, when the same weights were compared, the sugar and sodium content in the rice and soup/stew were higher in the HMRs than in the restaurant foods. In addition, due to the wide variety of HMRs available, many HMRs that can replace restaurant foods are being produced. However, even for the same type of food, the serving sizes of the HMRs and the restaurant foods were widely different, suggesting the need for a study to examine the appropriateness of the serving sizes of HMRs and restaurant foods.