Perception of Sugar Reduction and Added Sugar Use among Dietitians or Nutrition Teachers in Gyeonggi and Incheon

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietitians or nutrition teachers' perception of sugar reduction and usage of sugars in school meal service. A survey was conducted for dietitians or nutrition teachers at elementary, middle, and high schools in Gyeonggi and Incheon. Survey data were analyzed according to the experience period and school types of dietitians or nutrition teachers. The numbers of subjects according to work experience period were 134 (44.2%) for < 5 years, 68 (22.4%) for ≥5 and < 10 years, and 101 (33.3%) for ≥10 years. Among the subjects, 168 (55.4%) were nutrition teachers at kindergarten/elementary schools, and 135 (44.6%) were at middle/high/special schools. Perceptions of sugar reduction programs were higher in kindergarten/elementary schools than in middle/high/special schools. The perception of added sugar use increased with more work experience, and interest in sugar reduction was higher in kindergarten/elementary schools than in middle/high/special schools. Practice for added sugar reduction increased with more work experience, and the most common method for reducing sugar was use of natural sugars. The main reason for not reducing added sugars in school meals was due to preference. Nutritional education for students increased with more work experience and was higher in kindergarten/elementary schools than in middle/high/special schools. The major nutritional education methods were using school homepage (37.4%), sending family letters (37.4%), and using principle's discretion time (18.4%). Organic sugar and rice taffy were used more at kindergarten/elementary schools, and white sugar, brown sugar, and white syrup were used more at middle/high/special schools. The most common menu using added sugars was stir-fried dishes (stir-fried pork, chicken, and vegetables).

Perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children by the self-perceived sweet dietary habits of mothers in Busan

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children according to the self-perceived dietary preferences for sweet taste by mothers in Busan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 277 mothers were surveyed, and their perceptions of sugar reduction and the frequency of snacking in children were assessed using a questionnaire. The subjects were classified into either a sweet (n = 91) or an unsweet (n = 186) group according to their self-perceived preferences for a sweet taste. RESULTS: In the sweet group, the results for sweet products were sweetened ice (86.8%), confectionery (74.7%), processed milk (73.6%), carbonated beverages (71.4%), and fermented milk (53.9%). In the unsweet group, the results were sweetened ice (88.7%), carbonated beverages (78.5%), processed milk (75.8%), confectionery (69.4%), and fermented milk (50.5%). The necessity of sugar intake reduction was high in both groups (sweet = 89.0%, unsweet = 82.8%). Beverage purchases after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.05). The reasons for the beverage purchases instead of water were "habitually" (50.5%) and "like sweet taste" (25.3%) in the sweet group (P < 0.01). Snacking in children was significantly higher in the sweet group based on the increased frequencies of carbonated drinks (P < 0.01), fast food (P < 0.001), candy and chocolate (P < 0.05), crackers (P < 0.01), ramen (P < 0.01), and fish paste/hotdogs (P < 0.01). The frequency of purchase education after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a perception of sugar reduction and practical nutrition education aimed at reducing the sugar intake are necessary to improve dietary habits.