• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2011

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) revised the Health Functional Food Act in 2008 and extended the form of health functional foods to general food types. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate consumers' perceptions of the expanded form of health functional food and to predict consumption patterns. For this study, 1,006 male and female adults aged 19 years and older were selected nationwide by multi-stage stratified random sampling and were surveyed in 1:1 interviews. The questionnaire survey was conducted by Korea Gallup. The subjects consisted of 497 (49.4%) males and 509 (50.6%) females. About 57.9% of the subjects recognized the KFDA's permission procedures for health functional foods. Regarding the health functional foods that the subjects had consumed, red ginseng products were the highest (45.3%), followed by nutritional supplements (34.9%), ginseng products (27.9%), lactobacillus-containing products (21.0%), aloe products (20.3%), and Japanese apricot extract products (18.4%). Opinions on expanding the form of health functional foods to general food types scored 4.7 points on a 7-point scale, showing positive responses. In terms of the effects of medicine-type health functional foods versus generic health functional foods, the highest response was 'same effects if the same ingredients are contained' at a rate of 34.7%. For intake frequency by food type, the response of 'daily consistent intake' was 31.7% for capsules, tablets, and pills, and 21.7% for extracts. For general food types, 'daily consistent intake' was 44.5% for rice and 22.8% for beverages, which were higher rates than those for medicine types. From the above results, consumers had positive opinions of the expansion of health functional foods to generic forms but are not expected to maintain accurate intake frequencies or amounts. Thus, continuous promotion and education are needed for proper intake of generic health functional foods.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 1991

The objectives of the study were to provide the basis for nutrition education for consumers so that they could select nutritious and balanced fast foods and to promote menu items for fast foods franchisers by addressing nutrition and health. Nine franchisers (3 hamburger, 3 noodles and 3 chicken) were surveyed in terms of their nutritional concern for product development, and 360 consumers were interviewed at 36 fast food chains to assess their perceptions of nutrient adequacy of fast foods. The taste of foods was being addressed most when developing menu items in surveyed franchisers but nutrition and variety of menu were being considered least. Hamburger chain franchisers showed greater nutritional concerns in promoting menu items than noodles or chicken chain restaurants. Their nutritional concerns include utilization of nutritional information as promotion of menu item, providing nutrition information of menu item to consumers, and evaluating nutritional balance of their menu items. As a result of INQ evaluation of combined fast food selected by consumers for a meal, the desirable case of both nutritious and adequate in calorie was 14.7%, nutritious but lack in calorie was 44,1%, adequate in calorie was 24.5%, and undernutritious and lack in calories was 21.6%, 45.7% of snack selected by consumers had more calories than needed for a meal.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.4 s.100
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• pp.469-480
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to assess the perception of the characteristics of Condonopsis lanceolata dishes and to find out the development need & willingness to purchase for Condonopsis lanceolata dishes in view of industrial foodservice dieticians. Of 250 questionnaires distributed, 152 completed questionnaires were used for the statistical evaluation. Statistical data analysis was using SPSS 10.0 program for descriptive analysis, $X^{2}$-test, t-test and analysis of variance. The perception score on the characteristics of Condonopsis lanceolata dishes varied according to the number of meals served, mean price of a meal, type of food service management, food cost variation, offering type, and intake frequency; however, perception score was not affected by the number of meal serving/day and the type of menu. Regarding processed foods containing Condonopsis lanceolat, the need for developing side dishes was the highest in processed foods using Condonopsis lanceolata, followed by alcoholic beverage, one dish foods, health foods, and desserts. The score for willingness to purchase dessert of Condonopsis lanceolata was the highest, followed by alcoholic beverage, one dish foods, health foods, and side dishes.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to determine the preferences and consideration factors for selecting processed foods, in middle school students as well as their perceptions on food and nutrition labeling student. Middle school students in the Seoul area were surveyed from October to November, 2006. The results are summarized as follows: the preferred processed foods included 'drinks' (3.85), 'noodles' (3.81), 'biscuits and bread' (3.80), 'milk and dairy products' (3.71), and 'meat and meat products' (3.60). The most important consideration factors in selecting processed foods were 'expiration date' (4.45), 'taste' (4.34), and 'price' (4.08). The two main reasons for eating processed foods were 'delicious' (43.1%) and 'convenient' (33.9%). Food labels were identified 'sometimes' (34.5%), 'rarely' (31.2%), and 'almost never' (18.6%). The primary reason for examining a food label was 'to confirm the expiration date' (52.6%). The main reason for not reviewing a food's label was 'habitual purchase' (57.8%). Nutrition labels were identified 'rarely' (33.4%), 'almost never' (24.7%), and 'sometimes' (23.5%). The reasons for examining nutrition labels included 'to confirm a high proportion of nutritive substances' (26.5%), 'boredom' (24.2%), 'for weight control' (23.5%), and 'to improve health' (18.1%). The main reason for not examining a food's nutrition label was 'not interested' (56.5%).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.215-226
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• 2017

This study aimed to investigate the perception and preferences related to Korean food according to the ethnicity of university students in Yanbian, China. Korean food was preferred by Korean-Chinese as compared with Chinese students, and Korean-Chinese students preferred Korean food more than Chinese food. Both Korean-Chinese and Chinese preferred Korean food more than traditional Chosun food. More Korean-Chinese than Chinese students had positive perceptions of Korean food, which included foods made with jang, kimchi smell, and healthiness due to diversity. For evaluation of Korean food taste, more Chinese than Korean-Chinese subjects thought Korean food is not greasy and hoped salty taste. Both awareness and preferences related to Korean food were significantly higher in Korean-Chinese than Chinese students. Meat foods (so-galbi, dak-galbi, jang-jorim) were relatively high in terms of preference in both Korean-Chinese and Chinese students. Moreover, Chinese students preferred Korean traditional foods (sujeonggwa, yakgwa, gangjeong). In Korean-Chinese students, Korean representative traditional foods (kimchi, jangajji) and Korean traditional holiday foods (tteokguk, mandu-guk) were relatively low in terms of preference. This study found that the traditional food culture of Korean-Chinese has been maintained in Yanbian, whereas there is a change in the young generation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.22 no.2 s.92
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• pp.122-130
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the consumer perceptions of Koreans and foreigners towards Korean and Thai foods and restaurants. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 129 foreign residents and 291 Koreans who have been members or the Thai travel association in the seoul area. statistical data analysis was performed using the SPSS v 10.0 program. From the evaluation of Korean and Thai foods and restaurants by foreigners, Thai foods/restaurants showed significantly higher ratings in the attributes of 'Food appearance', 'Food smell', 'Overall food taste', and 'Exotic food taste' In the attributes of 'Use of various food seasonings', 'Variety of food ingredients', 'Variety of menu', 'Food sanitation', and 'Fast restaurant service', Thai food/restaurants showed higher ratings than Koreanfood/restaurants. Korean foods were considered more salty than Thai foods. However, overall satisfaction of Thai and Korean foods/restaurants was similar at about '3.7' points on the 5-point Likert scale. From the evaluation by Koreans, there were no significant differences in the attributes of 'Food appearance', 'Food smell', and 'overall food taste'. however. the rating or 'Exotic food taste' was significantly higher in Thai foods. In the attributes of 'Use of various food seasonings', 'Variety of food ingredients', and 'Variety of menu', Thai food/restaurants showed higher ratings than Korean food/restaurants. Interestingly, the evaluation of sanitation of restaurants was opposite to that of foreigners.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.230-238
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• 2003

Television is a powerful and persuasive teacher. It has the potential to influence perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, thus nutritionists need to be aware of the nutrition-related information (NRI) in television programming and the effect this information has on viewers. The purpose of this article was to review research published in peer-reviewed journals between 1988 and 2003 that examined the NRI embedded in American television programming, which is exported to over 125 nations, and its impact on nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors. This review revealed that, for the past 15 years, NRI was commonly included in both television advertisements and shows. Advertised foods were mainly high in fat, sodium, and/or sugar. In addition, the NRI embedded in food advertisements tended to be misleading or inaccurate. Prime-time television shows included numerous NRI containing scenes every hour, with situation comedies having the most and real-life re-enactment shows the least. Overall, low nutrient density foods accounted for approximately 40 percent or more of all food references on prime-time television shows. In television shows, foods were mostly consumed as snacks rather than meals and children often ate more nutritious foods than adults. Although relatively few studies have examined the impact of television programming on viewers, those that do exist indicate that as children watch more television, nutrition knowledge and understanding declines while misconceptions about nutrition increase. Advertising influences children's food purchase requests and subsequent purchases by adults, with the most requested and purchased foods being high in sugar, fat, and/or salt foods. Existing research indicates that television must be acknowledged as a major source of NRI and a potentially powerful influence on dietary practices.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

The number of vegetarian restaurants in Malaysia has been increasing as people are motivated by various reasons to consume vegetarian foods. In addition, university students contribute to the economy, hence it is important for investors or owners of vegetarian restaurants to understand university students' perceptions on vegetarian restaurants based on their own experiences. This research provided an insight of factors influencing university students, such as family members, religion, trend and health. The objective of this research was to identify the perceptions of university students on vegetarian restaurants. This research used a qualitative approach by conducting a focus group interview with university students as a source of data collection. The six respondents were selected based on the criteria of university students in Malaysia who are consuming vegetarian food. Findings enabled investors and owners of vegetarian restaurants to have an in-depth understanding on the factors influencing university students' perceptions on vegetarian restaurants and take necessary action to accommodate them.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.602-612
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• 2016

The purposes of this study were to explore food-related lifestyle segments for commercialization of ready-to-eat Korean foods, to identify their demographic characteristics, and to evaluate perceptions and preferences related to Korean foods. The subjects consisted of 266 Koreans and 212 non-Koreans in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Daejeon, Korea including in Grapevine of the US. Koreans' scores for food-related lifestyle of taste seeking and convenience seeking were significantly higher than those of non-Koreans. Through cluster analysis, four segments for Koreans were identified: health-oriented group, diet-oriented group, rationality-oriented group, and price-sensitive group. The clusters for non-Koreans were classified into four segments: taste-oriented group, rationality-oriented group, diet-oriented group, and convenience-oriented group. Significant differences were detected among the four segments in terms of demographic characteristics. There were significant differences in perceptions and preferences related to Korean foods by food-related lifestyle segments of non-Koreans. Japchae, Bibimbap, and Naengmyeon were selected as the most likely to purchase ready-to-eat food items for Korean clusters, whereas Bulgoggi and Bibimbap were selected for non-Korean clusters. This study shows that food companies wanting to promote commercialization of Korean foods should consider characteristics of each segment of food-related lifestyle.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.346-354
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: While the use of food additives in food processing has become a common practice worldwide, consumers' worry about potential hazards has not diminished. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in South Korean parents' perceptions about food additives by analyzing the results of surveys conducted from 2014 to 2018. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted an off-line survey in Korea annually between 2014 and 2018 on perceptions about food additives. The numbers of survey respondents in each year from 2014 to 2018 were 381, 426, 301, 519, and 369, respectively. Our consumer respondents were parents of elementary-school-aged children. RESULTS: The ratios of respondents perceiving "food safety" as the most important factor in purchasing processed foods and "food additives" as the biggest threat to food safety have decreased over the years. However, most consumers still have negative perceptions of food additives. Additionally, among consumers lower confidence in or trust of the Korean government continued throughout the study period and appeared to be the main problem that needs to be overcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that Korean parents are still troubled by food additives. Consumers' confidence in the government needs to be increased through public communications. More multifaceted educational programs communicating scientific knowledge of food additives are needed in order to correct consumers' misperceptions.