Food and Nutrition Hazards Related to Public Health, Food Technology and Ecology: Perceptions of Experts and Non-experts in the United Kingdom.

Aim: This study investigated perceptions of risk to self, risk to society, risk denial, control, responsibility, trust and knowledge of food and nutrition-related hazards among expert and nonexpert groups with an aim of better understanding barriers to effective communication between experts and the public. Design: Participants completed a questionnaire housed on an online platform. Methodology: Experts were recruited from nutritionists in the food industry in the UK. Non-experts were recruited from a voluntary public panel with access to the online platform. Questions documented demographic variables and scores for the risk that food and nutrition-related hazards pose to self and society. Participants scored perceptions of expert and personal control of hazards, personal responsibility for averting the hazards, trust in experts for managing the hazards and personal knowledge of the hazards. The hazards were categorised for analysis into public nutrition, food technology and food ecology to reflect degrees of citizen participation in risk management. Results: Experts scored perception of risk to self and risk to society from food technology hazards significantly lower than non-experts. Both groups had greatest risk denial, scores of personal control, personal responsibility and personal knowledge, and lowest scores for expert control, for public nutrition hazards. Trust in experts was higher among experts than it was among nonexperts. Gender, personal responsibility and knowledge, but not trust in experts, were significant predictors of risk perception. Conclusions: There were similarities in perception of risk of public nutrition and food ecology hazards between experts and non-experts, but differences in the perception of risk and trust in experts relating to food technology. Both groups perceived higher personal control of and personal responsibility for, and lower expert control for, public nutrition hazards.

Comparison of The Food and Nutrition Ecology of Elementary School Children by Regions / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was performed using mealtime atmosphere to characterize the food ecology of Korean children residing in different regions of Korea. A total of 705 elementary school students, 347 girls and 358 boys, were divided into three groups according to the areas where they lived, which included Seoul (n = 230), provincial cities (n = 273) and rural areas (n = 202). The subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires which were categorized to determine various factors related to food ecology, life styles, and health related symptoms. The average age of the study subjects was 11.5 years. The results showed that the average height (p < 0.01), weight (p < 0.01) and body mass index (BMIs)(p < 0.01) of the rural group were significantly lower than those of the Seoul and provincial city groups. A significantly higher proportion (10.4%) of the rural group was from disfunctional families, including single parent families, than those of the Seoul (1.7%) or provincial city (4.4%) groups. However, a larger number of children from Seoul ate alone, did not enjoy their meals, and hardly talked to each other during breakfast time, compared to those from the provincial city or rural areas. Also, the proportion (33.0%) of 'good' in balance of meal was the lowest (33.0%) in Seoul of the three areas (p < 0.01). Most of the children answered that they liked having breakfast and dinner with the whole family. In conclusion, the food ecology of elementary children differed according to the regions in which they resided. Although children from Seoul had higher BMIs, their nutritional intake was not satisfactory, and their undesirable food ecology could be a contributing factor.

An Ecological Study of Food and Nutrition in Elementary School Children in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The current socioeconomic climate has meant more children spend more time alone at home even for dining. This study was performed to characterize modem Korean childrens' food ecology based on mealtime atmosphere. A total of 705 elementary school students, 347 girls and 358 boys took part in the study. They were chosen evenly from the Seoul metropolitan areas, provincial cities, or rural areas, and were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire was categorized to determine various factors related to food ecology, life styles, and health related symptoms. The average age of the study subjects was 11.5 years. The average height, weight, body mass index, and Rohrer index were 143.2 cm, 37.6 kg, 18.2 and 127.2 respectively. A significant number of children(39.2%) answered their bed time was between 11 and 12 pm. Only 28.3% answered that the whole family has breakfast together, and 47.7% have dinner together. A considerable number of children, 17.8% for breakfast and 6.9% for dinner, answered they eat alone. Most of the children answered they like to have dinner with the whole family. Half of the children answered they do not feel hungry before having breakfast. Proportions of children for their favorite meal time were 66.8%, and 25.4% and 7.8% for dinner, school lunch, and breakfast respectively. The largest proportions of children, 53.3% and 68.7%, have breakfast and dinner at home. Most of the children(75.2%) never purchase their dinner. Forty two% of the children answered they like school lunch, however, 60% of children answered they leave portions of lunch uneaten occasionally or always. Only 38.0% and 46.2% of the children have nutritionally adequate diet for breakfast and dinner. Children having more meals with the whole family possessed a more positive attitude towards breakfast compared to the children who eat with the whole family less frequently. In conclusion, Korea children are exposed to different health threatening food ecology problems related to changing environments, and consistent concern and support from community nutritionists are required.