Milk Consumption and Perception of School Milk Program among Elementary, Middle, and High School Students in Korea

This study was designed to examine the level of milk consumption and perception of the school milk programs among elementary, middle and high school students, which provides the information to improve the school milk program. Using a self-administered questionnaire survey, the data collected from 1,725 students nationwide were analyzed. The results showed that whole milk was the type of milk most frequently drunk by the students, although flavored milk and yogurt products were also highly preferred. When asked whether they wanted the school milk program or not, approximately 30% of the students in the schools presently participating in the school milk program and 50% of the students in the schools not participating the school milk program answered "yes". However, all of the respondents preferred to have a choice for the school milk program. The elementary school students showed a higher level of satisfaction with the school milk program than the middle and high school students. Especially, the level of satisfaction with the taste and flavor of the milk was the lowest among the various satisfaction items. However, the students were reported to believe that milk is highly nutritious and good for their health in the present study. Our results suggest that providing a choice of dairy products would improve the students' satisfaction with the school milk program, and that continuous education about the benefits of drinking milk would also encourage them to participate in the school milk program.

Investigation into Korean School Milk Program Management and Dietitians' Perception of School Milk Program Improvement

This study was aimed to investigate management conditions and dietitians' perception for improvement of school milk programs. Using an online sampling method, collected data from 1,723 dietitians nationwide were analyzed. The results show that 44.4% of respondents carried out the cyclic school milk program, providing various types of dairy products either weekly or monthly. Further, 80.3% of respondents answered that preference survey results were a determining factor in their choice of school milk provider, and 55.9% said that a school steering committee made the decision on relevant facts of the school milk program. For diversification of school milk type, 60.5% of respondents wanted to maintain the current system, and 39.5% answered that milk type needed to be diversified. The respondents preferred fermented milk products, functional milk, and processed milk, in order, if school milk type is diversified. To improve perception and knowledge about milk, 66.0% of respondents thought that nutrition education by a nutrition teacher would be the most effective, and parent's letters or a nutrition newsletter would be helpful. More than half of respondents (55.0%) disagreed with a merged program for school foodservice and milk.

Calcium and Milk Intake of Elementary School Students from School Foodservices: Focus on the Gyeongsangbukdo Province

The calcium intake of elementary school students residing in Gyeongsangbukdo province from their school foodservice and milk program was evaluated. A total of 252 subjects (50.4% boys and 49.6% girls) were examined. A significant percentage of the total subjects (32.9%) reported skipping breakfast once or more per week, with the major reasons for skipping breakfast being a lack of time and appetite. A majority of the total subjects (78.2%) participated in the school milk program. The type of milk consumed by the subjects was mainly white milk, with a milk intake mostly between one and two cups. Participants in the school milk program consumed over the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of calcium, but non-participants consumed only 48.1% of the RNI (P<0.001). The calcium intake rate according to food cooking methods, from highest to lowest was in the order bap, twigim, jeon, jjim, and gui. Although the food intake rate of guk was low, the calcium intake rate by RNI was the highest for guk. On the other hand, the food intake rate of bap and kimchi was high, but their calcium intake rate by RNI was relatively low. These results show that non-participants in the school milk program are significantly deficient in calcium. Therefore, to improve the calcium nutrition for children, school lunch menus containing high calcium need to be developed and children should be encouraged to enter a school milk program.