Intake of Processed Foods and the Effects of Nutrition Label Education in 5th Grade Children.
- Author:
Soon Ok CHANG
1
;
Okhee LEE
;
Kyung Shil LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, The University of Suwon, Gyeonggi 445-743, Korea. sochang@suwon.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
nutrition education;
nutrition label;
processed food purchasing;
children
- MeSH:
Adoption;
Child;
Eating;
Humans;
Korea;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
United States Food and Drug Administration
- From:Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
2008;14(2):166-175
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The effects of nutrition label education on the perception, nutrition knowledge, understanding and applicability of labeling for 81 5th grade students was assessed. Prior to the education, the students' purchasing behavior of processed food was assessed by self-administered questionnaires. The evaluation of subjects' perception and understanding on nutrition label was completed prior to and following four education sessions utilizing materials developed by Korea Food and Drug Administration and Korea Health Industry Development Institute. More than 90% and 15% of subjects purchased processed food weekly and daily, respectively. Considering the nutrition label became an important factor in food purchases following the education sessions. Perception of the value of nutrition label improved from 2.93 to 3.32, although the belief that nutrition labels contributed to the maintenance of good food intake was not significantly increased. The total nutrition knowledge score increased from 5.47 to 7.14 and understanding nutrients composition table was significantly improved (3.17 to 4.80). The results indicate that a school-based nutrition label education program might be an effective aid for adoption of healthier food choices by children.
