• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.148-157
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• 2016

This study verified the effects of the quality characteristics of dessert cafes by business start-ups according to dietary life styles of consumer. Data was collected over 15 days starting from April 15, 2016 from 218 customers who visited dessert cafes. In brief, the research results are as follows. First, in order to verify the influence of service quality of dessert cafes according to dietary life styles, 3-kinds of variables, namely taste-pursuing type, convenience-pursuing type, and health-pursuing type, were set up for the lower variables, and 2-kinds variables, specifically credibility and sympathy, were established for service quality as dependent variables. The results of the regression analysis showed that, taste-pursuing type (${\beta}=.371$, p<.001), convenience-pursuing type (${\beta}=.401$, p<.001), health-pursuing type (${\beta}=.474$, p<.001), all 3-kinds of dietary life style, had a significant, positive(+) corelation ton the credibility of service quality. in addition, regression analysis revealed that the sympathy type of service credibility and, all 3 dietary lifestyle types, taste-pursuing type (${\beta}=.145$, p<.001), convenience-pursuing type (${\beta}=.208$, p<.001), health-pursuing type (${\beta}=.236$, p<.001), showed a significant, positive (+) corelation. Second, as a result of verifying the effects of service quality on customer consuming behaviors at dessert cafes, it was determined that there was a significant, positive (+) corelation with credibility and sympathy in consuming behaviors such like credibility (${\beta}=.313$, p<.001), sympathy (${\beta}=.228$, p<.001).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.588-598
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• 2013

This study was conducted to assess needs of educational mobile application (App) development for nutritional management and information on pregnant women. A total of 105 pregnant women were investigated on general characteristics, dietary habits, health behavior and needs for contents and composition of the application. The mean age of the subjects was 31.9 years and the mean gestation period was 25.4 weeks. The rate of skipping meal was 39.0% and the rate of irregular meal time was 46.6%. The consciousness of the meal as balanced nutrition and health was 19.9%. Eating out at least forth a week was 35.3%. Obtaining information about pregnancy and childbirth were internet (35.3%), hospital or health center (19.9%), books (17.1%), experience (15.2%), mobile (8.6%) and friends or acquaintances (4.8%). If the application is developed, subject replied 'frequently use' (51.4%), 'when needed' (47.6%) respectively. The favour topic in developing application were 'nutrition information of pregnant and fetal' (36.2%), 'weight management, feeding' (33.3%), 'food choice and cooking' (21.9%), 'shopping' (5.7%), 'example of menu' (1.9%), 'effect of smoking, drinking, exercising' (1.0%). The favorite content was 'include sufficient amount about information' (44.8%). Depending on the age and education level, the best age for pregnancy group have significantly higher ability for utilize and information gathering than old age pregnant group. Also the best age for pregnancy group have high demands of design, convenience and various contents in App development. Therefore, mobile application (App) for pregnant women could be widely used as an effective dietary guide.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.33-40
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• 2015

Purpose - Given an increase in the consumption of plums, prices have fluctuated in an unstable manner, making it difficult for farmhouses to sell the product. This study intends to provide information on the cultivation and sale of plums to consumers, thus enabling producers to utilize relevant information to analyze the types of plums that are preferred and consumed by users. Research design, data, and methodology - In this study, a survey was conducted on plum consumption by a consumer panel established and operated by the Rural Development Administration in December 2009. The objective was to identify the purchasing awareness of plums and to analyze panel data from 2010 to 2013 using a linear regression model, a Tobit model, and a panel regression model to derive the purchase characteristics. Results - The outcome of the survey on plums is as follows. Plums are purchased because they are good for the health (90.6%), which means that most customers purchase plums for their health benefits. When plums are in season, the purchase rate is 94.8%, indicating that most plums are purchased when they are in season and that selling plums when they are out of season is difficult. Therefore, we sell most plums in the correct season, and the rest of the plums need to be processed and then sent to markets. The strongest reason for not purchasing plums is that they are difficult to process for consumption (63.1%), followed by the reason that the fruit is unfamiliar (15.5%). Regarding solutions for increasing the consumption of plums, the answers were as follows: distribute a recipe for plums (36.9%), advertise its effect through TV or the press (31.1%), and develop various processed products (15.6%). When customers decide to pick out plums, the major considerations were freshness (4.43), safe to eat (4.16), price (3.96), size (3.87), brand (3.28), and discount event (2.62). Freshness is important for decision making and safe to eat was more important than price because plums are washed and processed into plum jam. According to the results of the linear regression model, a higher family income results in a higher purchasing amount. However, the amount of plums purchased by a person was reduced if his or her income increased. Compared with individuals who used other purchasing agents on weekdays, those who used the traditional market turned out to purchase a higher amount of plums on the weekdays. Conclusions - Considering that numerous people purchase plums for their health benefits, promoting the consumption of plums is anticipated as being successful if they can be produced safely for consumption and for inclusion in recipes and various processed foods, and to promote eco-friendly agricultural practices.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2023

Background: The need to develop alternative chemicals is increasing worldwide due to the strengthening of global chemical regulations and consumer safety awareness in the marketplace. Objectives: We aimed to review domestic and foreign technology trends for exploring alternative candidate algorithms that can be used to develop safer alternatives to strengthen global market competitiveness and protect public health in the future. Methods: We searched the current status of research trends, companies related to the development of alternative chemicals in domestic and foreign countries. For this, we referred to research papers and websites by companies and institutes related to such alternatives. Results: Among the domestic and foreign research trends, more studies in South Korea were focused on predicting molecular-based physicochemical properties and toxicity than were reporting on research exploring alternative candidates. Three web-based databases and six tools were being developed. More studies in other countries predicted information to consider in alternative development than reported on research exploring alternative candidates, and four web-based databases and three tools were being developed. Among the companies related to the development of alternative chemicals, 286 alternatives classified as 'EVALUATED ALTERNATIVE' in MARKETPLACE accounted for the most significant proportion in Europe on a continent basis, and the largest number in the United States (US) on a national basis. In South Korea, only significant companies were registered. Conclusions: In this study, it was found to be necessary to provide public technology support platforms to explore alternative candidates considering various aspects in order to support alternative development. In conclusion, exploring alternative candidate algorithms could contribute to the response to the global trends in the chemical industry and to supporting companies and researchers developing safer alternatives in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2005

This survey was conducted to assess the consumer perceptions of food-related hazard in 500 housewives from all over Korea. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling method. The survey was performed using structured questionnaire through telephone interview by skilled interviewers. The results showed that 34.6% of the respondents felt secure and were not concerned about food safety, and 65.4% were concerned about food safety. Logistic regression analysis showed that the increasing concern on food brands, food additives (such as food preservatives and artificial color), and imported foodstuffs indicated the current increasing concern on food safety. Other related factors indicating the increasing concern on food safety were education level and care for children's health. The respondents who cared about food safety expressed a high degree of concern on processed foodstuffs such as commercial boxed lunch (93.3%), imported foods (92.7%), fastfoods (89.9%), processed meat products (88.7%), dining out (85.6%), cannery and frozen foods (83.5%), and instant foods (82.0%). The lowest degree of concern was on rice. All the respondents perceived that residues of chemical substances such as pesticides and food additives, and endocrine disrupters were the most potential food risk factors, followed by food-borne pathogens, and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). However, these results were not consistent with scientific judgment. Therefore, more education and information were needed for consumers' awareness of facts and myths about food safety. In addition, the results showed that consumers put lower trust in food products information such as food labels, cultivation methods (organic or not), quality labels, and the place of origin. Nevertheless, the respondents expressed their desire to overcome alienation, and recognized the importance of knowing of the origin or the producers of food. They identified that people who need to take extreme precautions on food contamination were the producers, government officials, food companies, consumers, the consumer's association, and marketers, arranged in the order of highest to lowest. They also believed that the production stage of agriculture was the most important step for improving the level of food safety Therefore, the results indicated that there is a need to introduce safety systems in the production of agricultural products, as follows: Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Traceability System (75).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1701-1706
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• 2013

Domestic and overseas information with regard to harmful substances are analyzed. From the results, environmental-derived hazard chemicals, which show relatively low recognition, and hazard chemicals that occur unavoidably in food manufacturing process are selected as target harmful substances. Thus, educational leaflet contents were developed based on these substances. To find the effects of education with the above contents, this study surveyed 120 female college students living in Seoul. The purpose of the survey is to analyze the change in recognition, attitude and behavior on hazard chemicals in foods. The survey found that the recognition on harmful substance in foods increased; from 31.5~78.0% before education to 98.8% after education. It also indicates that vague anxiety in which the harmful substances may damage their health decreased by approx. 25.0%; from 77.8% before education to 52.8% after education. For the question of what they would do when government promotes to reduce harmful substances in foods, 12.3% of respondents said that they would actively follow the suggestions and 73.5% of them said that they would do their best before an education. However, 56.1% of them said that they would actively follow the suggestions after the education. It indicates that the ability to recognize harmful substances changed after the education. With regard to consumer behavior, when they knew about the harmful substances in foods, 49.6% of them said that they would select foods after investigating relevant information before the education, while 77.4% of them said that after the education; which is an increase of 27.8%. Further, 45.4% of them said that they would not purchase relevant foods before the education, while 20.9% of them said that after the education; which is a decrease of 24.5%. Therefore, it is considered that vague anxiety of consumers can be eliminated by providing persuasive information on harmful substances. To expand on the communication channel with consumers for food safety, contents development and educational promotion should be enhanced for providing food safety related information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.1865-1872
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• 2015

This study attempted to investigate consumer perceptions and attitudes towards reducing sugar intake by providing data to develop guidelines for the government and food-related industries to encourage Korean consumers to maintain appropriate levels of sugar intake. A survey was conducted on 238 adult consumers regarding their purchasing power for products with high sugar content in Seoul and Bundang, Gyeonggi area from September 1~30, 2013. Nutritional information on sugary products had a greater impact than media and others' recommendations on consumer awareness regarding need to reduce sugar intake. External factors such as health and weight control were stronger reasons for consuming reduced amounts of sugar or sugar-free products than internal factors such as sweetness. However, internal factors-such as taste-did not have a greater effect on consuming reduced amounts of sugar or sugar-free products than environmental factors-such as absence of purchase channels. Consumers indicated higher acceptance for 50% reduction in sweetness of existing commercial products. Regarding methods of lowering sugar intake, sugar replacement and reducing sugar consumption both generally and at home were preferred. In addition, consumers were likely to pay 10~14% more for sugar-reduced products than for existing products. Overall, consumers expressed positive attitudes towards reducing sugar intake in the future, although those in their twenties tended to be more passive than other age groups.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Consumers are very concerned about food safety as the risk with food increased. This study was conducted to evaluate the perceptions and practices of consumers on food safety in order to collect some information for the development of consumer education program. Total 500 consumers were asked to answer for survey constituted with 6 questions of generic information, 4 of food safety perceptions and 8 of food safety practices from June to July, 2006. More than half of respondents (51.8%) were unsatisfied with the food safety management of government while the individual practices on food safety were satisfactory. Especially, most respondents (98.7%) checked the expiration date of food when they purchased and 97% of respondents were washed hands before food preparation. The higher food safety perception, the better food safety practices of consumers. These results suggest that the systematic and continuous educations on food safety hazards and the principles of sanitation management are necessary for safe food handling and perception on food safety.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2012

This study is a survey of regulatees' perception on main contents and enforcement effect of the Act, the retailers at food stores within Green Food Zone, for the effective enforcement of "The Special Act on the Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life" legislated in 2008. Percentage, frequency analysis, and T-test are derived from the survey carried out to the 175 retailers at food stores within Green Food Zone, across the country except Jejudo, for the two months March and April of 2011. The survey results are as follows. Over 80% of the respondents are aware of comprehensive policy for child food safety and the enforcement of 'the Special Act' and considering the rate of satisfaction on food safety information provided by government, over 90% of the respondents, virtually most of them, are satisfied. The rate of awareness of Green Food Zone is about 80% and that of outstanding business for children is about 50%, showing little perception of it. The comparison of the survey result of 2011 with that of 2010, which have the same questions to the retailers within Green Food Zone, still indicates a need for enhancement of understanding on absolute standard, though it showed fairly better improvement in general. Several proposals are given in this study based on the survey results, which will contribute to the children food safety and health improvement in the end.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.579-589
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• 2009

We focused on the condition of washed, fresh ginseng in the market and analyzed consumer attitudes to the product to improve the consumption of fresh ginseng. A preference for fresh ginseng was high among every age class, and was particularly notable in older individuals. Fresh ginseng was usually eaten as ginseng chicken soup, mostly in summer and winter, and as a valuable health food, rather than because of desirable qualities of taste or smell. A total of 66.5% of those surveyed reported that they had purchased fresh ginseng, mostly from big discount stores. Such stores were preferred as outlets owing to a reputation for quality and shopper convenience (the stores were located near interviewees' homes). More than 70% of purchasers emphasized that they chose to purchase in department stores and traditional markets owing to the reputation for quality of such sources. Most consumers considered quality to be a prime element in purchase decisions. A total of 32.9% of those surveyed had bought washed fresh ginseng to give as a gift to a friend. Of those surveyed, 67.1% had never bought washed fresh ginseng. The following reasons were proposed to explain the preference for purchase of ginseng with attached soil. Most consumers (40.2%) thought the soil was a reflection of quality. Those who preferred washed fresh ginseng considered that the material was hygienic and convenient to store. When questioned about their intention to buy washed fresh ginseng, 55.0% of consumers replied in the affirmative and 17.1% in the negative. When consumers were asked whether they would be willing to pay an additional charge for the washing and packing of fresh ginseng, 58.8% answered in the affirmative.