• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effect of food and nutrition label education on the perception and utilization of nutrition labels on food packaging, and to suggest the importance and necessity of food and nutrition label education in the school curriculum. 811 junior-high school students participated in this study and completed self-administered questionnaires regarding general characteristics, and the perception and utilization of nutrition labels. Knowledge of nutrition labels was tested by 13 questions on the questionnaire. Data was analyzed (using SAS package program) based on the educational experience with nutrition labels. Significant differences in each variable were tested using the $X^2$-test and t-test. Students who had learned about the food and nutrition labeling system had more knowledge of nutrition labels and were more likely to check the nutrition label before purchasing food. In addition, students who had been educated about food and nutrition labels in the school curriculum had a significantly higher understanding and recognition of the nutrition label system. These results suggest that education concerning the food and nutrition label system increased the students' interest in nutrition labels and helped them choose healthy food. Therefore, it is necessary to include an education program about food and nutrition labels in the school curriculum to help students use label information and make healthy dietary choices.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.185-196
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• 2003

In order to investigate the recognition of processed foods, use of food labeling, and their influencing factors in adolescents, 277(male 125, female 152) middle school students were conveniently selected from Cheonan city, and were surveyed by self-recording questionnaire on June, 2000. Subjects' parents were also surveyed using the similar questionnaire. Food labels of all 222 processed foods collected from stores around schools, were well labeled in most items, but food additives(35.6%) and the origin of major ingredient(27.0) were not well indicated. The recognition score of processed foods was 55.0 out of a full score 100 in students and 68.5 in parents. The scores of students were positively correlated with those of their parents and with father's education years, while negatively correlated with snacking expenses. The rate of reading food labels was significantly different between students(51.3%) and their parents(89.9%). The main purposes of reading food labels, in case of students, were to check expiry date(93.7%), price(70.4%), and how to eat(46.5%) in order. While in parents, those were to check expiry date(95.6%), additives(59.0%), and manufacturer(45.8%). Similarly, the most three important items in food labels were expiry date, price, and quantity to the students, but to the parents they were expiry date, manufacturer, and ingredient. The most significant reason not to confirm food labels was because of small size and complication of labels. The students who did not read food labels had more snacking money and more frequent snacking, and showed lower recognition score of processed food, compared with the students who read food labels. In conclusion, the students did not well recognise processed foods and only a half of them read food labels at purchasing. The recognition score of processed foods, snacking moneys, and snacking frequency may be influencing factors on the reading of food labels in students. The high recognition of processed food of parents may positively affect the students' recognition, but did not affect directly the reading food labels.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.387-402
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary behaviors, processed food preferences, and awareness levels of nutrition labels among female university students living in middle region by breakfast eating. A total of 243 students (breakfast eating group: 153, breakfast skipping group: 90) were surveyed from April to May of 2011. The results are summarized as follows: Skipping breakfast (SB) group had a significantly higher frequency of skipping lunch and dinner compared with the eating breakfast (EB) group (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). In the EB group, food labels were identified sometimes (31.8%), frequently (29.1%), and rarely (28.5%). In the SB group, food labels were identified rarely (33.3%), sometimes (27.8%), and frequently (26.7%). The EB group used food labels for comparing price and weight of products more frequently than the SB group (P<0.05). In the EB group, nutrition labels were identified sometimes (38.0%), frequently (28.1%), and rarely (24.8%). In the SB group, nutrition labels were identified rarely (32.6%), sometimes (30.3%), and frequently (21.4%). The EB group used food labels for identifying nutrient contents more often and for weight control more less than the SB group (P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively). The main reason for not identifying nutrition label of the processed foods was 'not being interested (55.5%)' in the SB group (P<0.05). Therefore, education programs that emphasize the importance of eating breakfast, and reading food and nutrition labels need to be developed for university students.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.492-500
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• 2010

This study conducted a questionnaire survey of 482 male and female second graders in middle schools located in Cheongju, Chungcheongbukdo. This study lays its purpose on establishing the nutrition facts labeling system by understanding eating habits and analyzing the actual state of reading nutrition facts labels and degrees of understanding them among middle school students, and helping them to engage in right food purchasing activities and through it result in developing sound eating habits by providing them with basic material to be employed to actively utilize nutrition facts for choosing and buying healthy foods. As a result of surveying regarding the actual state of reading food labels, regarding degrees of recognition of food labels, it was revealed that 91.1% of female students recognized them, while 42.1% of male students did not recognize them, indicating lower levels of recognition among the male group. Regarding reasons for not checking food labels, 49.2% indicated habitual purchasing, followed by poor contents in the label(20.2%), ununderstandable contents(17.7%), and the lower reliability of the contents(6.9%). As a result of surveying regarding the actual state of reading nutrition facts labels, in recognition of nutrition facts labels, female rather than male students showed higher degrees of recognition, and degrees of recognition were found to differ according to parents' total income and mothers' educational attainments.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2015

This study examined the utilization of processed food and the recognition of food labels among 257 university students (201 females and 56 males) in Seoul and Kangwon-do. The results of the study showed that the most important considered information on food labels are shelf life, nutrition facts, and price in sequential order. Female students' recognition of nutrition facts was significantly higher than that of male students (p<0.05). Female students more attentively checked the manufacturer, origin of the products, and shelf life information on food labels than did the male students. In checking out the food labels information, the most checked items on food labels were calories, trans fatty acid and cholesterol in that order and the least checked information was the sodium contents. Among processed foods, male students' consumption was dominant in instant noodles, frozen dumplings, and canned goods, while female students had more candies/chocolates. In selecting processed foods, male students showed strong preference for cheaper and quantitative products, while female students chose more tasty, brand new, well-known brand, and products of domestic origin. Frequency of canned and frozen food consumption showed a positive correlation with BMI, while candies/chocolates showed a negative correlations with BMI. Negative correlations were found in the attitude of selecting food with longer shelf life and BMI. The results of this study suggest that university students need to be well informed to make wise food choices that contribute to a healthy diet. Additionally, food manufacturers and government authorities concerned should make certain that consumers know how to use food label information more easily and effectively through proper education.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1008-1017
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• 2010

The current study aims to determine the effects of descriptive menu labels on customers' purchase intentions in a restaurant setting. The research identified the importance of information provided by the menu labels as well as how the different types of descriptive menu labels affect patrons' purchase intentions in an American-style restaurant. The subjects evaluated in this study were foreign clients who frequented the Western cuisine restaurant in the United States Forces Korea. A total of 351 questionnaires were analyzed by factor analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis by means of SPSS 15.0. As a result, it was found that comprehension of menu and price were the most necessary pieces of information for customers encountering menu labels, and sensory type of descriptive menu labels was the most preferred. In addition, differences in the purchase intentions of customers in response to different types of descriptive menu labels suggests that there were more statistically significant differences in the perception of purchase intention among descriptive labels as compared to usual menu labels.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.942-951
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• 2015

This study compared nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, and checking behaviors of food and nutrition labels between Korean and Chinese university students to obtain useful data for development of an education program for healthy dietary life. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire in Korea and China. Frequencies, t tests, ${\chi}^2$ tests, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis were conducted by SPSS Win. V.21.0. The levels of nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors were not high. Korean students showed higher percentage of correct answers about nutrition knowledge and levels of dietary behaviors than Chinese students. The means of degree of checking contents of food labels were 3.46 points for Korean students and 3.11 for Chinese students. Both groups of students showed the highest degree of checking milk and dairy products. The degree of understanding nutritive component labeling of Chinese students was higher than that of Korean students. Both groups of students showed higher than normal levels of confidence about nutritive component labeling and necessity of education on food and nutrition labels. The most preferred method of education on food and nutrition labels was broadcast media for both groups of students. In addition, there were significant correlations among nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, checking degree of food labels, checking degree of nutritive component labeling, and experience of nutrition education.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare convenience food purchasing behaviors and food habits. The study, which asked surveyed 131 female college students in Daejeon, in 2011, on how they used nutrition labels. The subjects were divided into two groups, in terms of the way they checked examined nutrition labels: a "Check" group(n=62, 47.3%) and a "No check" group(n=69, 52.7%). Reasons given for not reading nutrition labelings were "a habit of buying" for 72.2%, and "too small or rude" for 19.1%. The "Check" group reported higher interest in nutrition(p<0.001) and hygiene(p<0.01) than the "No check" group. Those who used the labels had higher cereal(p<0.01) and vegetable(p<0.01) consumption and a lower intake of fast foods(p<0.05). But however, most of the subjects(65.6%) chose by taste, at the time they purchased the convenience foods. The subjects considered "expiry date"(n=87, 66.4%) to be more important information on food labels than "nutrient composition"(n=11, 8.4%). The number of products whose nutrition labels were checked by over 50% was five out of 12. In conclusion, our study suggests that proper use of nutrition labeling may improve food choices and enable healthy dietary practices. Further efforts are needed to provide the public with nutrition education programs on how to read nutrition labeling. Modifying nutrition labels to make them easier for the public to understand should also be considered.

• 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.