• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.616-628
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to monitor the current nutrition labeling practice on the packaging of the processed foods providing consumers with reliable nutrition information, which has been considered as a useful aid for food selection and a potent educational tool for nutrition in a daily life. The 2,214 processed foods purchased at the a wholesale market in July, 2003, were divided by food categories issued from the 2003 food codes and assessed in the terms of the nutrition composition labeling and nutrition claims. Nutrition composition labeling was found on 533 out of the 2,214 processed foods items. The findings of this study were as follows : Milk and dairy products had 66.4% of nutrition composition labeling, which was the largest percentage among the food categories. Tables format (71.3%) is the most widely used type of nutrition labeling. The title of nutrition composition labeling used the most widely was nutrition composition (71.3%). Nutrition composition included many different ways of expression, such as a table of nutrition composition, and indication of nutrition composition, etc. The expression unit of the nutrition composition labeling was use per 100g or 100mL (40.5%). The processed foods with nutrition claims were 18.0% (399 items). Nutrition claims were divided into two categories: nutrient content claims and nutrient comparative claims. The most frequently used nutrient content claims were contained (43.9%) and more or plus in the nutrient comparative claims (16.0%). Ca was the most popular item as a nutrition claim nutrient (33.6%).

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.13 no.2
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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%).

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.100-111
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of current nutrition labeling on the packaging of the processed foods that provide consumers with a reliable and consistent source of information, which has been considered as a useful aid for food selection and a potent educational tool for nutrition in daily life. The 2,160 processed foods purchased at the supermarket on September, 2002, were divided by food category issued from the 2002 food codes and assessed in the terms of the nutrition composition labeling and nutrition claims. Nutrition composition labeling was found on 356 of the 2160 processed foods items. Milk and dairy products had 49.7％ of nutrition composition labeling, which was the largest number among the food category. Tables were most frequently used as the type of nutrition composition labeling (79.8％). Nutrition composition including many different ways of expression, such as a table of nutrition composition, indication of nutrition composition, analysis table of nutrition composition and comparative table of nutrition composition, made frequent use of nutrition composition labeling titles (78.7％). The various unit of measures were use in the nutrition labeling of the processed foods, per l00g or 100$m\ell$ was the highest (44.6％) under the currently practiced nutrition labeling. The correct labeling standard with nutrient content and ％ RDA except energy, was used on 47.8％ of labels, and those with only liability indication nutrient and liability indication nutrients plus discretion indication nutrients were 25.3 and 22.5％ respectively. The processed foods with nutrition claims were 8.0％ (172 items). Nutrition claims were divided in two ways: nutrient content claims and nutrient comparative claims. The most frequently used claims were contained in the former (44.4％) and more or plus in the latter case (16.3％). Ca was the most popular item as a nutrition claim nutrient (50.6％).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.585-594
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• 2002

This study examined the status of current nutrition labelling and claims for the processed foods that were purchased in the supermarket. They were assessed in the aspects of frequency and content of nutrition labelling and claims. The results are summarized as follows; The percentage of products contain the nutrition labelling or claims of processed foods of investigation were 18.7% and 18.8% respectively. In the nutrition labelling method, the format separated by expression contents with 'only liability indication nutrient'or 'liability indication nutrients plus discretion indication nutrients' were 44.7% and 43.4% respectively. In the case of type and title, 'table' and 'nutrition composition'were used most frequently, 83.9% and 83.2% respectively. And in the case of expression unit, 'per 100 g or 100 ml'was higher (56.8%) than others. Nutrition claims were divided into 'nutrition content claim'and 'comparative claim', in the former the most claim was 'containing'and in the other'more or plus'used most frequently.'Nutrient function claim'was 13.4% and 'Implied nutrient claim'was 7.3% of all the claims. Results of the evaluation of current nutrition labeling system, nutrition labelling was less advanced and variable in content and format and also the information was not easy for consumers to understand and use them. To support achievement of the nutrition label, there must be program and initiatives for better understanding and communication and guidances on food labelling and nutrition for food manufactures.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.361-370
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• 2001

This survey was conducted to evaluate with 457 health professionals from July, 1999 to September, 1999 the awareness of and satisfaction with the nutrition labeling system in Korea and to determine a desirable labeling system. Professors of food and nutrition and nutrition researchers in the food industry had the hightest scores on awareness of the nutrition labeling system(75.6% and 73.4%, respectively), which was significantly different from each other by occupation(p < 0.01). Frequently checked labeling information were expiration date, production date, price, and company respectively. Special nutrient food producers(56.9%), dietitians(49.3%), nurses(48.1%), researchers(42.3%) answered moderately on satisfaction with nutrition information for products, which was statistically significant(p < 0.01). This suggests that health professionals were unsatisfied with the present nutrition labeling system. In nutrition focusing statements, nutrient content claims, health claims, and working periods were significantly related with nutrition focusing statements and health claims, but not with nutrient content claims : the subject who had been working for more than 10 years and less than 5 years had positive thoughts or those matters while the subjects whose working periods were between 10 and 5 years had the lowest score. The most desirable labeling units were serving size(65.1%). Ninety two percent of the subjects wanted absolute nutrient contents in food and their percentage of the KRDA. Eight nine percent of health professionals agreed that the health claims should be used only with scientific approval by the government or food research institutions. Only 4.4% of subjects were satisfied with current regulations of health claims(p < 0.001). More studies regarding labeling units, their range and nutrient reference values are needed. The opinions of health professionals in nutrition labeling system should discussed to establish a desirable nutrition labeling system.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.763-773
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• 2000

On the basis of the concept retained in nutition label(NL) the consumer's perception use and demand on NL nutrition knowledge(NH) purchase of nutrient controlled food and dietary modification for health were examined. The subjects were 1203 house wives mainly in the age of 30-40 and self administered questionnaire was employed. The results were as follows. Subjects' demand on nutrition information was greater while the availablity and usefulness of NL was unsatisfactory. The purchase frequencies of nutrient controlled foods were higher compared to NL reading. The use comprehenison reliability of nutrition information were better in high NK group compared to low NK group except the reliability on health claims. The required nutrients for content information were in the order of calorie Ca cholesterol Fe protein and total fat. The demand for nutrient content information was carrelated with intention of subjects' dietary modification but not the use of NL. These results indicate that NL be a good source of nutrition information and the consumers' demand for NL was based on their dietary purpose though the use of NL was unconfirmed.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2001

Consumers'frequent use of micronutrient supplements has caused concerns o possible overdoses and prompted the view that the appropriate provision of nutrition information on such supplements is needed. In this study the nutrition information on vitamin-mineral supplements in Korea was evaluated based on the labels on the supplements. Consumers'use, reliance on and demand for nutrition information were examined by self-administered questionnaire. Subjects were 1,203 middle-aged housewives. Under examination were 141 multinutrient products (86.6%) and single nutrient products (13.4%). Various names and units were used for the same nutrient and the labels were not informative to consumers. The mode of nutrients contents in the supplements were several fold of RDA though not in the range of toxicity. %RDA value was seldom shown on the label. Currently these supplements are classified as general drugs in Korea so they are not subject to regulations on nutrition labeling. Half of the subjects read the nutrient content list but two-thirds of them did not understand the information. Numerous health claims related to diseases were listed on the label and more than half of the subjects read them and one-third believed those health claims. These results indicate the need for an appropriate format for nutrition information on vitamin-mineral supplements.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2007

This study investigated the prevalence of nutrition labeling and claims on processed and packaged foods. The final database consists of 1,287 foods, which were collected in two supermarkets in the Seoul area from September to November, 2006. An estimated 78% of KFDA-regulated processed, and packaged foods have nutrition labels. Nutrient content claims on food labels were identified in 21% of the foods which have nutrition labels. The prevalence of nutrition labels in this study is much higher than in previous studies due to the current expansion of the mandatory labeling regulation. However, false labeling and misleading contents claims were also identified. The food label is an important tool for enhancing the public's understanding of healthy choices of processed foods. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of the nutrition labeling regulation, industries, government agencies and health professionals should work together to help consumers make healthy dietary choices and improve their health.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2013

In this study, we compared nutrient content emphasized on labelling of processed milks with that of whole milks and evaluated how well they conform to labelling standard. A total of 98 samples (33 whole milks, 28 calcium fortified milks, 30 low-fat milks and 7 lactose hydrolyzed milks) were collected in hypermarkets in Seoul from August 28 to August 30 in 2012. Calcium, fat and lactose contents were tested in the samples. Calcium contents ranged 102.2~113.0 mg/100 mL in whole milks and 120.1~337.8 mg/100 mL in calcium fortified milks. The level of calcium contents in fortified milks ranged very broad. Accordingly, the standard of calcium contents on fortified milks will be required. Fat contents ranged 3.1~3.9 g/100 mL in whole milks and 0.1~1.9 g/100 mL in low-fat milks. The average of fats content in low-fat milks was nearly one third than whole milks. Lactose contents was ranged 4.6~5.1 g/100 mL in whole milks and not detected in lactose hydrolyzed milks. All of processed milks were suitable to processing standard and labelling standard. But nutrition claims often used on processed milk such as "High" or "Low" were not adequate to indicate the exact nutrient content, which is a cause of the confusion for milk product labelling to consumers. We need a lot of research about nutrient labelling that can deliver appropriate and understandable information to customers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.561-572
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• 2008

Currently, Korea is facing dramatic nutrition transition among children, which may increase risk of degenerative diseases due to excessive intakes of fats, sugars and sodium. Promotion of eating healthier foods among children is difficult because the present nutrition label is not easily understood. Therefore, to promote healthier foods this study was aimed at developing guidance of standard amounts of high, medium and low levels of sugars, sodium, fats and other components contained in foods or drinks that are promoted to or formulated for consumption by children. Multipronged approach was used to collecting information, including key word searches in Medline and other databases, internet searches, reports from world organization, and contact of key individuals who work in organizations. We reviewed dietary reference intakes for Koreans, nutrient reference values, nutrient content claims of nutrition labeling, guideline daily amounts of United Kingdom, dietary guidelines and consumption data of nutrients, and selected components for labeling. And we decided goals of guideline daily amounts for children and nutrient criteria to underpin the high, medium and low content of each component. Then we collected data on processed foods sold at 12 middle schools and 11 high schools in Seoul, and classified processed foods into food category. Sales per one student per day were in the order of snacks, breads, and non-carbonated drinks. One hundred forty five mostly consumed products were selected and classified into criteria of high, medium and low total fat or sodium. Eighty five(58.6%) were classified into high fat food and only 11(7.6%) into high sodium food, in case that the base is chosen per 100 g or 100 mL. In conclusion, the nutrient criteria and choice of 100 g base, which we suggest in this study, need to be tested by simulation with more processed foods and refined in view of the practical issues suggested by stakeholders in future.