The principal objective of this study was to analyze Swede’s perceptions of Asian food using a means-end chain method, which may contribute to our understanding of new markets for a food industry interested in globalizing Korean food. With the Means-end chain method, one can determine the cognitive structures built in consumer’s minds, which are developed by connecting attributes of product, consequences, and values. The attributes of Asian food that are most positively perceived by Swedes are ‘fresh vegetables’, ‘low-fat’, ‘light meat and seafood’, ‘exotic ingredients’, ‘not expensive’ and ‘unknown food’. The consequences of eating Asian food connected to these attributes are ‘healthy’, ‘tasty’, ‘good way to save money’ and ‘curious’. Finally, Swedes expect to enjoy a value of ‘achievement’ at the end. Based on the result that ‘unknown food’ attribute is connected to ‘achievement’ value, Swedes are assumed to be attracted by the fact that Korean food is ‘unknown food’. However, the effect of the ‘unknown food’ attribute will fade away with time; therefore, stressing Korean food’s status as a ‘healthy’ food, which can be attributed to its use of ‘fresh vegetable’ and ‘light meat and seafood’ ingredients and ‘low fat’ cooking method may be effective as a long-term strategy for making Korean food attractive. The ‘healthy’ consequence is connected to Swedes’ perception of the value ‘achievement’ and simultaneously to their perception of the value ‘belonging and love/sense of belonging’.

The purpose of this research was to investigate consumers' awareness and perception of the noble family food to popularize it. A total of 1,100 subjects lived in Seoul area participated in Web-based survey. Thirty eight percents of the participants were not even aware that there exists the noble family food and overall 63% of the participants merely have the idea of what the noble family food is. The impressions of the noble family food varied widely. Some of them were positive as the noble family food seems good for health and some were negative as it is not easy to cook. The results showed that many people are not interested in noble family food, however, there was a high behavioral intention to have it in their future meal plan. Participants responded that noble family food had not fully developed yet (mean=4.08), but it had potential to be world-wide excellent (mean=3.95). There was significantly high scored response that the noble family food should contain sanitary cooking process to popularize it (mean=4.16). Also participants addressed that it was necessary to use public relations through mass media (mean=4.02), and it required appropriate educational approach to the noble family food (mean=4.02). In addition, people perceived that traditional custom and the noble family foods were jointly connected by cultural events. On the other hand, there were low scored responses on developing of noble family food as a processed food to be generally accessible in daily life. In conclusion, the importance of public relations should be emphasized to popularize the noble family food. Also, increasing the number of places that sell noble family food would help to popularize it.

This study had carried out to investigate the usage status of customer, the positive effects and problems, and the most important items of the nutrition labeling at purchasing the food etc. on the current nutrition labeling system in order to establish the customer-centric nutrition labeling system. Survey was carried out by questionnaire method that is targeted on adult female above 20 years old in Seoul and Kyeongnam area from May to June, 2004. For the experience of checking the nutrition label of the processed domestic and imported processed food, 82% and 75.4% of the respondents were replied 'have checked' respectively. For the positive effects due to enforcement of the nutrition labeling system, the respondents agreed highly with 'easy to compare with other products' and 'improve the products quality'. For the problems of the nutrition labeling system, the respondents agreed highly with 'different criteria for each product' and 'incendiary purchasing due to false or exaggerated labeling', and gave the higher scale for the positive effects than the problems relatively. For the necessity of the nutrition labeling system, 96.2% of the respondents were replied 'necessary', and it was indicated a significant difference on age and marital status(p<.01). For the price rising due to enforcement of the nutrition labeling system, 55.2% of respondents agreed, and it was indicated a very significant difference on age and monthly income(p<.001). For the most important nutrition labeling items at purchasing the food, the respondents were replied 'total calorie' on most of the food, and in addition, they checked carefully the lipid, cholesterol, protein, Ca, and Fe.

A company is liable for its products and has the responsibility to make good on any loss or damage incurred by the user of its product. The purpose of the Product Liability Act(PLA) is to protect consumers against damage caused by defective products, and contribute to the safety of the citizen's life and the sound development of the national economy by regulating the liability of manufacturers, etc. for damages caused by the defectiveness of their products. In this study, the cognition levels of consumers and producers for PLA were surveyed. The cognition levels of four factors of acknowledgement, comprehension, necessity and impact for PLA were assessed. The results were as follows : i) Acknowledgement and comprehension levels of consumer were assessed low but they assessed necessity and impact of PLA high; ii) Producers assessed necessity and impact of PLA higher than their acknowledgement and comprehension levels; iii) Overall cognition levels of producers were higher than those of consumers.

This study was to investigate the consumer recognition of commercial Sunsik & Saengsik. The data was collected from the 395 married women residing in Seoul and Kyungki area by the self-administered questionnaire. A related purpose was to analyze the nutrient composition and the hygienic safety of commercial Sunsik and Saengsik. The results from this study were as follows. The purchasing and using behaviors were significantly different between two user groups. Sunsik users have generally purchased the products at a discount store(41.0%) as a between-meal snack(36.4%). The products were usually the ones made on the spot(55.0%). However, Saengsik users have purchased the manufactured products-serving size package-(84.0%) at a health foods store(50.7%) as a health food(38.7%). Many of Sunsik users have had Sunsik in water or milk with sugar(40.7%) and 1-2 times a week(40.0%). But Saengsik users have usually had Saengsik in water or milk with honey(38.6%) and everyday(34.7%). According to the analysis on nutrition composition, crude proteins were significantly more rich in Sunsik samples, and crude ashes were more rich in Saengsik samples(p〈0.01). Sunsik E and all the Saengsik samples showed the high total viable plate counts of 4.8~7.0 log cfu/g. Coliform groups were detected in all the Saengsik and two Sunsik(A, E) samples.

This study was conducted to investigate the consumers' recognition and information need for food safety, especially focused on pesticide residues, foodborne illness, and food additives. The data were collected from 350 adults living in Taegu and Pusan by the self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies and chi-square tests were conducted by SPSS. The results of the survey were as follows: (1) the consumers' concerns about food safety were high, (2) many respondents worried about eating vegetables, fruits and grains in turn because of pesticide residues, and did not trust the results from food-safety tests, (3) the major factor for foodborne illness was regarded as unfreshed or contaminated food stuffs, (4) many consumers concerned highly about preservatives among food additives, and tried to consume food containing less food additives, and (5) many respondents wanted to get the information about harmfulness of pesticide residues in foods, method to choose fresh food, and safety of food additives.

A survey was conducted to investigate consumers' attitudes toward the foods developed by gene recombination techniques from December, 1999 to April, 2000. The questionnaires were mailed to 1,500 people, and the 1,101 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, acceptance, intention of purchasing, and labeling information. Although the portion of the consumers (88.8%) knowing the genetically modified foods (GMF) was lower than that of the food expert group (98.7%), many consumers had some knowledge on the GMF, which may be influenced by news released from mass media. Seventy-nine percent of the consumers responded that gene recombination technology is necessary in food production, which is similar to the findings on the survey of the expert group. The portion of the consumers responding that these foods are potentially hazard was 88.1 %, which is a little higher than the data (80.9%) from the expert group. The consumers having greater knowledge less worried about a potential hazard of the gene recombinant foods (p＜0.01). Although 62.9% of the consumers responded to be willing to purchase those foods, only 16.2% of them responded to purchase the foods with no conditions, which is lower to that from the expert group (23.5%). There was no statistically significant relationship between the knowledge and the intention of purchasing. The ninety point three percent of the consumers wanted the information on gene recombination to be labeled on the foods. The data from this survey suggest that knowledge of the consumers on the GMF are not accurate, so proper strategy for consumer education may need to be developed. In addition, it is necessary to improve safety assessment sys0etn and analytical techniques for genetically modified foods (GMF) and to build pre- and post-market surveillance system for efficient implementation of the GMF labeling.

This study was carried out to investigate the consumer recognition and consumption of Misitgaru(the traditional powder of roast grain). Data were collected from the 605 housewives(average age, 42.9 years old) residing in Chonbuk area by the self-administered questionnaire. The results from this study were as follows. The respondants were generally concerned regarding Misitgaru as a between-meal snack(33%). And there were recognition on Misitgaru as a weaning food(17%), health food(16%), and substitute food(14%). Of the respondants, good consumers of the Misitgaru were high ratio in age below 30 years old and in number of family member between 6 to 7. Among the demographic variables, age, educational level and housing form especially affected the purchasing place and educational level affected the kinds of mixing cereals. The higher the educational level, the more the kinds of mixing cereals. The methods of storage were significantly different according to age and income level. The older in age and higher in income level, the higher the storage at room temperature.

Vending machines play an important role of giving convenience and simplicity in modem life style. So they became an indispensible element in life of modern people. This study was peformed to investigate customer's actual status in use as well as the degree of satisfaction and requirement of food and beverage vending machines. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. 1. About the advantage of using the vending machines, respondents answered 'convenience' for 50.2% and 'closeness' for 33.6% of all the answers. About the dissatisfaction for vending machine, three factors of 'inappropriate taste, temperature. quantity' and 'unsanitary pakage material and food' were the main causes. 2. About the credit of food quality,48.6% of respondents answered' some what doubtful'.58.1% of respondents pointed out that they couldn't confide in freshness and shelf-life' 3. 48.2% of respondents agreed that vending machines would be needed more in the future. Respondents wanted lots of food to be served from vending machines. The foods which respondents wanted to be served from vending machines were noodle(30.8%), rice(19%), pastry(18.2%), bread(17.45) gruel(7.3%) and snack(7.3%).

본 연구는 서울과 경기 지방의 주부들을 대상으로 식생활 행동과 편의식에 대한 인식도를 조사함으로써, 한국형 건강 편의식 개발 방향 도출에 필요한 기초 자료를 얻고자 시도되었다. 본 연구를 위하여 710명의 주부들이 응답한 설문지가 통계학적으로 분석되었다. 설문지는 일반 사항, 식생활 및 식품 구매 행동과 편의식에 대한 인식도에 관한 문항들로 구성되었다. 일반 사항 중 연령, 취업 여부, 라이프스타일이 응답자의 식행동과 편의식에 대한 인식에 유의적인 영향을 미치는 인자임이 규명되었다. 식생활 전반에 대한 책임을 맡고 있는 것은 주부들이었으나, 이들의 대부분이 식사준비에 대해 즐겁다기보다 부담을 느끼고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 태도는 다른 연령군, 취업 여부, 라이프 스타일군에서 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 장보기 빈도는 필요할 때마다 1주일에 2~3번이 가장 높았다. 또한 미리 식단 계획을 하기보다는 장볼 때 즉흥적으로 하는 경향이 뚜렷했다. 식품 구입시 가격보다는 품질을 중요시하고 있었다. 소비자들은 현재 시판되고 있는 손질된 야채나 조리된 식품에 대해 만족하지 못하고 있었다. 그러나 품질이 우수한 편의식 개발에 대한 요구도는 높은 것으로 나타났다.

The consumers' purchase experiences of some imported agricultural products (rice, sesame, garlic, onion, jujube, red pepper, oak mushroom, apple, dried persimmon) and their consciousness for the labelling of the country of origin for agricultural products in Youngnam region were examined in this study. The sample consisted of 438 women who lived in Taegu, Pusan and other cities of Kyungpook and Kyungnam, and the self-administered questionnaire for the survey was used. The main reasons to purchase the imported agricultural products were the wide distribution and low price of them. Most of the consumers were concerned about safety of the imported agricultural products but only a few people experienced unsatisfaction of the products. The price, quality, package, container, label, and safety of the examined products were evaluated worse than those of the domestic products. Generally, although they suffered unsatisfaction, the consumers did not complain because they wanted to avoid troublesome work, which means the consumers did not assert their rights. Some people did not know the labelling system for the country of origin and the place to charge the market violating it. Therefore, it will be necessary for the consumers to receive education about the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria for consumers' grievances and damages. The current labelling method for the country of origin generally met the consumers' preference but the consumers wanted to improve the position and color of the label. Most consumers could not differentiate the imported products from the domestic products. The results obtained from the survey suggest consumer education for the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria should be activated through various ways such as mass media and consumer organizations.

건강식품 및 원료의 유효성분 및 위해요소 조사분석에 관한 연구의 기초조사로 건강식품에 대한 소비자의 의식조사를 실시하였다. 건강식품에 관한 이용실태 조사와 건강식품에 대한 객관적 지식정도 조사로 구성된 설문지를 이용하여 서울, 경기 지역에 거주하는 방문 및 협조가 가능한 20세 이상의 일반 소비자 1000명을 대상으로 1995년 10월부터 96년 2월에 걸쳐 직접 방문하고 설문지를 배부하여 설명한 후 조사대상자가 직접 기입하게 하는 방법으로 조사하였다. 882부를 회수(회수율 88%)하였으나 이중 불완전한 응답 23부를 제외한 859부(유효회수율 86%)를 SAS프로그램을 이용하여 통계처리하였다. 조사대상자의 사회경제적 여건에 대하여는 단순빈도와 백분율을 구하였고 교차표를 이용하여 결혼 여부, 월수입, 교육정도 등의 사회 경제적 여건과의 통계적 연관성을 파악하였다. 건강식품에 관한 이용실태 조사결과로는 응답자의 58.8%가 건강식품을 사용한 경험이 있었으며 68.2%는 건강식품의 효능을 믿는다고 응답하고 있어 건강식품에 대한 관심도가 매우 큰 것으로 나타났다. 건강식품에 대한 가장 큰 기대효과는 전체적 건강유지에 도움을 주는 것(59.8%)이라고 응답하였으며 가장 큰 부정적 견해로는 과대선전(52.1%)이라고 응답하였다. 건강식품에 대한 정보 선택 경로로는 주로 친지의 권유나 소개(30.6%)로 이용하고 있었으며 우리나라 식품법에서 건강보조식품의 등록관리사실은 63.7%가 모르고 있다고 응답하여 응답자의 과반수 이상이 건강식품의 행정적 관리사실에 무지한 것으로 나타났다. 건강식품의 등록관리 사실을 알고 있는 건강식품의 종류로는 로얄제리(22.7%), 스쿠알렌(16.0%), 정제어유(15.1%), 유산균(10.6%), 알로에(8.8%)순으로 나타났다. 건강식품과 약품(또는 한약)과의 차별인식 조사결과에서는 응답자의 84.2%가 건강식품과 한약이 다르다고 생각하면서도 가장 잘 알고있는 건강식품의 종류와 약품(또는 한약)의 종류를 묻는 두 문항에 모두 인삼(22.7%, 41.7%)을 가장 많이 응답하여 전체적으로 건강식품과 약품의 구별을 제대로 하지 못하는 것으로 나타나 이를 위한 계몽과 교육이 시급함을 알 수 있었다.

건강식품 및 원료의 유효성분 및 위해요소 조사분석에 관한 연구의 기초조사로 건강식품에 대한 소비자의 의식조사를 실시하였으며 1차적으로 건강과 식습관에 관한 소비자 의식구조에 대하여 분석하였다. 설문지를 이용하여 서울, 경기 지역에 거주하는 방문 및 협조가 가능한 20세 이상의 일반 소비자 1000명을 대상으로 1995년 10월부터 96년 2월에 걸쳐 직접 방문하고 설문지를 배부하여 설명한 후 조사 대상자가 직접 기입하게 하는 방법으로 조사하였다. 882부를 회수(회수율 88%)하였으나 이중 불완전한 응답 23부를 제외한 859부(유효회수율 86%)를 SAS프로그램을 이용하여 통계 처리하였다. 조사 대상자의 사회경제적 여건에 대하여는 단순빈도와 백분율을 구하였고 교차표를 이용하여 결혼 여부, 월수입, 교육정도 등의 사회경제적 여건과의 통계적 연관성을 파악하였다. 조사결과 건강유지를 위해 가장 중요하게 고려하는 사항으로는 식습관(39.8%)이라고 답하였으며 93.9%가 식습관에 의해 질병에 걸릴 수 있다고, 97.1%가 식습관에 의해 질병이 치료될 수 있다고 믿고 있어 건강과 식습관이 매우 밀접한 관계가 있음을 인식하고 있었다. 가장 염려되는 질병으로는 암(30.6%), 성인병(14.1%), 사고에 의한 질병(12.6%), 비만(10%) 순이였고 식습관에 의해 발병할 수 있다고 믿는 질병의 종류에는 당뇨병(35.6%), 비만증(22.4%), 고혈압(12.8%), 변비(12.7%), 암(7.9%) 순이였으며 식습관에 의해 치료할 수 있다고 믿는 질병의 종류에는 당뇨병(40.1%), 비만증(25.9%), 변비(16.5%), 고혈압(7.4%), 암(3.3%) 순으로 나타나 당뇨병과 비만증은 식습관과 매우 밀접하다고 인식하고 있는 반면 가장 염려되는 암에 대해서는 큰 기대를 하고 있지 않는 것으로 나타났다.

The objective of this study was to investigate important factors affecting food choice, specific dietary changes over past few years and to find out consumer opinions concerning the use of yogurt and oligosaccharides. Results of this study showed that three most important factors in food selection were taste (52.5%), nutrition (23.4%) and safety (15.8%). Three most important nutritive factors were protein (26.3%), calorie (19.2%) and vitamin (13.8%). Specific dietary changes of the respondent over past few years didn't affect meat intake, but increased vegetable and fruit intakes. Majority of the respondent (52.3%) ate yogurt more than 3 times per week and 35.6% of them ate 3~4 times per month. Reasons for intake of oligosaccharides were as follows; low calorie (40.8%), sweetener (28.3%)and bifidogenic factor (25.0%). The respondent regarded that yogurt had more preventive effect of disease than that of oligosaccharide.

The awareness of the nutrition labeling of 82 food producers and 668 government officials was assessed and compared, from May to June in 1994, to that of consumers. Compared to 82.4% of cosumers, 48.1% of producers and 47.8% of officials answered that nutrition labeling is necessary. 48% of producers expected a modest food price rise, but 70% thought food sales would not be affected with nutrition labeling. While being worried about the regulatory difficulties and the increased work load given the inadequate implementation of the current food labeling system due to insufficient personnel, 50.2% of officials wanted the new nutrition labeling system to be introduced within 1~2 years. Contrary to the general dissatisfaction with the system and the lack of confidence in it on the part of consumers, producers thought that they currently provide sufficient food information for consumers, and that consumers had much confidence in it. Producers and officials were more found worried about consumers' inadequate understanding and inactive use of the system in contrast to the widespread and welcome support on the part of consumers. But it was fully agreed by all that education and awareness is crucial for the successful implementation of nutrition labeling system.

Consumer awareness of current food labeling system and new nutrition labeling system which the government considers to adopt widely was assessed, from May to June in 1994, for 423 adults living in Seoul. Being highly conscious of food safety, they thought the current food label did not provide sufficient information. Dissatisfaction with the current system was shown higher in the female, young, or unmarried strata. The need for nutrition labeling system was widely recognized by 82% of total respondents regardless of sex, level of education, monthly income, and marital status. Although some expressed worries about proper management of the system, most of the respondents answered that the system would benefit them after all. In this connection, 59% of the respondents showed willingness to accept a price increase to be entailed by nutrition labeling. Nutrition informations that, they thought, should be covered were: calorie>minerals>cholesterol>protein>vitamins>fat>sodium. Additional labeling informations they called for were nutrient contents>RDA percentage>specific statement on reinforced or eliminated nutrients.

The consumers' concept and the acceptability of ginger and its processed product were surveyed by premade questionnaire. A total of 447 questionnaires were collected from housewives, restaurant managers and related processors at 7 regions in Korea. The 40.6% of total responsors reacted ginger as spice was necessary for food preparation by flavor(87.5%). The most difficulties of using ginger were peeling and washing(89.8%). The raw ginger purchased for their use was only utilized less than 70% of 46.5% and 50% of 21.3% of total responsors respectively. The processed and convenient style spices including ginger were accepted by 72.8% of qestionnaires and 76.9% of them hoped to have ginger paste. Such a convenient ginger products were more welcomed by younger generation than older.