광주지역 중학생의 가공식품 안전성에 대한 인식 연구

A study on the recognition of the processed food safety in the middle school students of Gwangju

The objective of this study was to provide the fundamental data necessary to guide students of middle school in the education of nutrition for choices of processed food. The sample population was 700 students in 3 middle schools located in Gwangju and surveyed from May 8th to 19th in 2006. Data were analyzed by the SAS program. Significance of differences were determined by ANOVA. The results were summarized as follows. 95.2% of the respondents said that they experienced processed food purchasing. The taste of foods was the important point when they buy them. 87.0% of students checked food labeling when buying processed foods. The reason they check food labeling is to confirm shelf life and on the other hand the reason they didn't check food labeling was habit of purchasing. Students thought that energy was most important in the nutrition labeling, followed by calcium, vitamin C, iron, and sodium. 14.9% of respondents thought that additive of the processed food is safe. 75.9% of students replied that canned goods crushed in transporting is safe. In a question about knowing endocrine disruptors included in containers of cup-noodles, 69.2% of students responded to knowing the fact. 55.1% of participants said that they had some foods heated up by a microwave oven in plastic containers. 63.0% of students check shelf life/nutrient labeling when purchasing some foods. 75.7% of respondents replied that trans fatty acids in pizzas and popcorns was harmful. 16.5% of respondents knew trans fatty acids and how they knew them as follows : reading the newspaper and watching the TV, through their parents, and from their teachers. The respondents thought that it is necessary to teach trans fatty acids in the school education. Results above, the fact snack foods need energy or nutrient supplement more than taste should be recognized to growing students. Also the students should understand clearly processed foods labeling and apply to purchasing some processed foods. It should be carried out practices and publicity activities in education.