• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.262-271
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• 2016

Purpose: Using food labels has been related to healthy eating habits and positive health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of food labels utilization and the association between food label use and obesity related factors. Methods: We conducted a self-reported population-based survey including health behaviors, 24-hour recalls, measurements of body mass indices with 6,266 Koreans aged 10 or older. ${\chi}^2$-test and ANOVA examined differences in demographic factors, health behavioral factors, and nutrition factors in tandem with food label use categories. Multivariates logistic regression was used to estimate association between food label use and obesity factors. Results: The percentages of food label users and non-users who perceive food labels were 21.8% and 48.5% respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression, food label use had significant positive associations with women, age, income, education attainment, and subjective obesity. After adjusting for socioeconomic factors and dietetic treatments, the positive associations between food label use and subjective obesity, weight control, and subjective obesity with objective normal weight remained. Conclusion: In order to improve eating habits and weight management, the obesity population that does not use food labels needs to receive proper nutrition education including food choice and body image correction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.585-591
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• 2006

The amount of sodium in the processed foods was evaluated by the information on the nutrition label. One-meal type foods as Ramen, Woodong, Naengmyon provide the most sodium reaching 30 - 70% DV per serving size. In Ramen not much difference was observed for the sodium content by food companies though each company provides various amount of sodium reducing as much as 25% DV. The proportion of female college students who read the nutrition information reached 62% but it remained 32% on the sodium information. They purchase low sodium foods rarely however their intention to buy low sodium foods increased up to 40% in condition that sodium information is given on the food label. Nevertheless 50% of them would not buy low sodium food if the taste is undesirable. Low sodium ramen cooked with 80% soup-base was acceptable by the subjects. Majority of them responded the soup was rather salty indicating the reduction of sodium in ramyeon is possible.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.193-205
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate nutrient and food intake status and dietary quality in Korean adults according to nutrition label utilization. Methods: We analyzed data from the combined 2010-2011 KNHANES (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The analysis included 8190 adults aged 19 to 64 years. In this study, according to nutrition label utilization, we classified the subjects according to the "non-utilization of nutrition label (NUNL)" group (male, n = 2716, female, n = 3147), "identification of nutrition label (INL)" group (male, n = 143, female, n = 330), and "Utilization of nutrition label (UNL)" group (male, n = 363, female, n = 1491). Nutrient and food group intake, NAR (nutrient adequacy ratio), MAR (mean adequacy ratio), and INQ (index of nutritional quality) were analyzed using data from the 24-recall method. Results: Results of this study showed that subjects in the NUNL group were significantly more likely to drink alcohol compared with the other two groups. The NUNL group showed a significantly higher frequency of consuming instant noodles, Soju (male), and carbonated drink (female) than the UNL group, whereas the NUNL group showed a significantly lower frequency of consuming milk, soymilk, and yogurt than the UNL group. In addition, regarding diet quality (NAR and INQ), significantly lower vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C, and calcium was observed in the NUNL group compared with the UNL group. For both male and female, significantly higher MAR was observed in the UNL group than in the NUNL group. The NUNL group showed significantly lower consumption of milk compared to the UNL group. Conclusion: Good dietary practice such as referring to nutrition labels and its influence can affect the quality of nutritional intake and selection of food, while it can also provide basic data for specific nutrition education regarding use of nutrition labeling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.765-774
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• 1998

This purpose of this study was to contribute to the establishment of nutriton labeling and consumer education about food label by offereing basic information. Survey was carried out by questionnaire method. Subject groups were middle and high school female teachers and they were asked questions about their utilization and satisfaction of the current food labeling system, their awareness of the nutrition labeling and its necessity, and their acceptance of the future enforcement of nutrition labeling system. Questionnaires were distributed to 500 middle school female teachers in Chungbuk and Kyoggi area. Out of 340 reports(68%) collected, 311 reports(91.5%) were analyzed using SAS computer program. Most of the respondents payed much attention to the labels of the food at the time of purchase, the degree of their satisfaction in the current food labeling system was low. Concerning the awareness on nutrition labeling, Home Economics teachers knew better than non-Home Economics whether there were the regulations of nutrition labeling in Korea or not. Ninety-six percent of respondents answered that nutrition labeling is necessary. Home Economics teachers recognized the necessity of nutrition labeling more strongly than non-Home Economics teachers. Sixty eight percent of the respondents showed positive attitude to the actuation of nutrition labeling.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.239-254
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• 2010

This study investigated the use and understanding of food and nutrition labels in 498 female adolescents (middle school students: MS 248, high school students: HS 250) in Gyeonggi-do. Fifty percent of the MS and 47.2% of the HS read food labels, and the most common reasons for reading labels were to find a product's expiration date and price. The food label information considered most important by the subjects was the name of the manufacturing company and expiration date. Over 80% of the subjects read nutrition labels. The MS read nutrition labels to find nutrients and their amounts in foods, while the HS read labels mostly in an effort to control body weight. These subjects gave more attention to calories and fat, the nutrients related to body weight, than to other nutrients. The subjects were highly aware of the necessity and positive effects of nutrition labels, because they believed labels could make it easier for them to choose healthy foods. However, scores for understanding nutrition labels showed the subjects failed to understand label information accurately. Generally, the MS showed better dietary behaviors than HS. But the HS had significantly higher scores than MS for the item "know relative weight with height." Those that read food labels had significantly better BMIs, dietary behaviors, and awareness and understanding of nutrition labels. There were significant positive relationships among awareness & understanding of nutrition labels and subjects' dietary behaviors. The study findings can be utilized to better plan nutrition education programs aiming to improve use and awareness of food and nutrition labels among adolescents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.297-306
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes has continued to increase globally. Changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, increased stress, and aging are major contributors. Glycemic control is the key strategy of diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization of nutrition labels and related factors among patients with diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. General, health-related, diabetes-related characteristics from 1,587 adults with diabetes history were included. Nutrition label utilization was assessed with awareness and use of nutrition labels and effects on food choice. For statistical analyses, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of awareness, use, and effects of nutrition labels on food choice among diabetic patients were 48.8%, 11.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. High monthly income, walking frequency, family history of diabetes, younger age at diagnosis, and shorter duration of diabetes were associated with higher nutrition label awareness. Nutrition label use and effect on food choice were higher in women, those with high monthly income, those diagnosed at younger than 45 yrs, those with diabetes for less than 10 yrs, those with meal therapy, or patients who had undergone a fundus examination. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition label utilization status was low in Korean patients with diabetes. Strategies are needed to promote nutrition label use as a diet management tool for patients with diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.513-524
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• 2010

This study was designed to examine nutrition label use, self-efficacy, snacking and eating behaviors of middle school students, and to investigate if these characteristics were different by nutrition label use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to 348 middle school students in Kyunggi, Korea. About a third of subjects read nutrition labels when they purchased snacks/packaged foods. Most nutrition label users were interested in reading information on calories, fat and trans-fat. Self-efficacy of eating/selecting snacks or general nutrition behavior was moderate (mean score: 44.4 out of 60), with significantly higher score in nutrition label users compared to nonusers (p < 0.001). Nutrition label users felt more confident in 9 items out of 15 items of self-efficacy, such as "taking fruits instead of cookies/candy for snack" (p < 0.001), "choosing milk instead of soft drink" (p < 0.01), "not having snacks after dinner" and "avoiding processed foods for snacks" (p < 0.05). Subjects had snacks 1.3 times a day, and nutrition label nonusers consumed snacks more frequently than the counterparts (p < 0.01). About 55% of nutrition label users and 64.7% of nonusers mainly purchased snacks for themselves (p < 0.05). Commonly purchased snacks by adolescents were ice cream, cookies/chips, breads and ramen. Major considerations in purchasing snacks were taste (46.9%) and price (34.6%). In selecting snacks, the influence of friends and parents was greater than the other sources. Based on eating frequency of snacks, nutrition label users were more likely to consume healthy snacks, such as fruit juices, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and potato/sweet potato than nonusers (p < 0.05). Eating behaviors measured by 15 items scored 33.6 out of 45. Nutrition label users showed better eating behaviors, such as "eating meals slowly", "eating foods cooked with plant oil", and "eating out less frequently" (p < 0.05). Study results showed that majority of adolescents did not read nutrition labels, selected snacks for themselves and had somewhat unhealthy foods for snacks. This study also showed the differences in self-efficacy, snacking and eating behaviors between nutrition label users and nonusers. In nutrition education, it is necessary to stress the importance and skills for reading nutrition labels. It is also needed to help adolescents to select healthy snacks and have desirable eating behaviors, as well as increasing self-efficacy.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.172-181
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• 2016

This study evaluated the satisfaction and healthy eating index of nutrition-plus program providing nutritional supplements to pregnancy, lactating women, infant and children. This program was carried out at Public Healthcare Center, Seodaemun-gu in Seoul from February 2014 to June 2014. The subject selected among applicants for low income family financing of the government included 159 subjects. There was no statistically significant difference for degree of satisfaction with supplementary food by age, but the degree tends to get higher at lower age. Degree of satisfaction with supplementary food by the duration for participation was shown higher as the duration gets longer. For questions of 'Do you check nutrition label?' and 'Do you preserve food as described at food label?' in healthy eating index evaluation, the scores appeared higher at younger age group as they check the nutrition label more. Also as the duration for participation gets longer, the scores appeared higher which can be interpreted as effect of nutrition education from Nutrition-Plus. Frequency of having breakfast gets lower at higher age of subjects. And it gets higher as the duration for participation gets longer even though that there's no difference between '3 to 4 months' and '5 to 8 months' of the duration of participation. For evaluation of food security in recent 1 year, 86.8% of subjects responded 'Food sufficiency' and 'Enough but not always the kinds of food we want', and there is no difference by age and the duration of participation. As a result of this research, it is shown that the subjects of nutrition support project are relatively satisfied with the support. And healthy eating index gets improved as the duration of participation gets longer which can be considered as effect of nutrition education. It seems to be necessary to keep nutrition education as well as food support so to perform food life education on appropriate purchase and consumption of food.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.226-238
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• 2010

This study was conducted to assess the effects of nutrition label education in children. The students of three randomly selected sixth-grade classes at an elementary school participated, were classified into a control group, an indirect (written message to parents) education group, and a direct (teaching children) education group. Nutrition label education was conducted in the latter two groups but not in the control group. There were no significant differences between pretest and posttest scores for nutrition knowledge or in the dietary attitudes of the control group and indirect education group. Improvements in test scores for nutrition knowledge and dietary attitudes were observed only in the direct education group. There were significant positive changes in the indirect and direct education groups, such as selecting snacks (cookies) by considering the fat content. Moreover, after the lessons, the percentage of children who chose white milk (regular milk, calcium-enriched milk, and low-fat milk) significantly increased in the direct education group. This study suggests that conducting nutrition label education helps children improve their nutrition knowledge and leads to positive changes in dietary attitudes and eating behaviors. In particular, a direct nutrition education method is more effective than an indirect method such as a written message to parents. Therefore, it is suggested that systematic and constant 'nutrition label education' be performed by nutrition teachers in elementary schools to establish healthy eating habits based on choosing nutritious snacks and processed foods.