Perception and importance for country-of-origin labeling at restaurants in college students in Jeju / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the perception and importance of country-of-origin labeling at restaurants in 500 college students in Jeju surveyed from April 15 to May 5, 2016 with the aim of providing basic data. A total of 465 questionnaires out of 500 were used as base data for this study. METHODS: The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, χ2-test, and t-test using the SPSS Win program (version 21.0). RESULTS: Regarding food safety-related dietary behaviors, average score was 3.65 points (out of 5), and ‘put the food in a refrigerator or freezer immediately (4.07)’ showed the highest score, whereas ‘cool rapidly hot food prior to putting it in the refrigerator (3.08)’ showed the lowest score. Regarding the awareness of country-of-origin labeling at restaurants, 67.5% of subjects were aware of it. With regard to dietary behavior of food safety, the high group showed a higher score than the low group (p < 0.001). Regarding reliability of the system, 4.9% of subjects indicated ‘very reliable’ and 45.4% ‘somewhat reliable’. For perception of subject's country-of-origin labeling, the average score was 3.77 (out of 5). Regarding checking country-of-origin labeling at restaurants, 68.0% of subjects checked country-of-origin labeling, and the high group in the safety-related dietary behavior score ranking showed a higher rate (79.3%) than the low group (57.1%) (p < 0.001). With regard to importance by item, 'honest country-of-origin labeling of restaurants' showed the highest score at 4.27 (out of 5). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to provide continuing education for college students in order to enhance their perception of country-of-origin labeling at restaurants. Moreover, a systematic and appropriate support and control system by the government and local government needs to be developed in order to improve country-of-origin labeling at restaurants.