청주시 유아부모의 간식 구입 시 식품영양표시 활용도

Utilization of Food and Nutrition Labeling of Preschool Children's Parents of Cheongju City in Buying Snacks

The purpose of this study is to investigate utilization of food and nutrition labeling of 149 preschool children's parents of Cheongju City in buying snacks for their children. The subjects of this study were mostly "preschool children's mothers," and 48.3% of the mothers were full-time housewives. As for the age, 75.2% of the subjects were "not more than their 30s," and their children were mainly "five years old" (36.9%) followed by "six years old" (22.8%). Most of the subjects answered that their children should have snacks (81.2%). "Supermarkets" (88.6%) was most popular as places for buying snacks, and "because of convenience" (75.2%) was the most common responses as reasons of buying snacks. "At least two per day" (64.4%) was the highest response as the frequency of having snacks, and "fruit or fruit juice" (83.9%) was most popular as the kinds of snacks followed by "milk or diary products" (71.8%). "Expiration date" and "date of product" were higher in perception among the contents of food and nutrition labeling, and "calories," "carbohydrates," "sugar," and "proteins" were higher among the perception of nutrients. "For checking harmful substances" (44.3%) was highest as reasons of checking food and nutrition labeling, and "for health care" (77.2%) was highest as reasons of checking nutrients. "Total calories" (34.4%) was highest as the nutrients considered most important, and "somewhat necessary" (94.6%) was highest as the responses on necessity of food and nutrition labeling. "Somewhat necessary" occupied 89.2% in the responses on necessity of education on food and nutrition labeling. The utilization of food and nutrition labeling in buying snacks was higher as the educational level of the subjects was higher and the perception on the labeling was higher (p<0.05). The results of this study may indicate necessity of education on food and nutrition labeling for the subjects, requiring prompt education on food and nutrition labeling for preschool children's parents in the near future.