본 연구는 어린이 기호식품에 대한 초등학생들의 인식과 섭취 실태/행동을 알아보고, 또 성별 및 학년과의 연관성을 알아보고자 수행되었다. 일개 도시의 13개 초등학교 주변에서 무작위 추출된 초등학생 306명(남 188명, 여 118명)에 대하여 직접면담법에 의한 설문조사를 수행하였다. 전체적으로 20% 이상의 학생이 어린이 기호식품에 대한 지식이 없었으며 또 어린이 기호식품에 대한 정보원이 없었다. 또한 60% 이상의 학생이 1주일에 1~2회 이상 학교주변 어린이 기호식품 판매업소를 이용하는 것으로 나타났다. 어린이 기호식품에 대한 정보 습득 경로로는 학교가 37%로 가장 많고, 다음으로 가정 16%이었다. 어린이 기호식품에 대한 의식 및 행동을 나타내는 요인들 중에서 지식과 정보 습득 경로는 성별과 유의한 연관성이 있었다(p < 0.05). 또 지식, 정보 습득 경로, 태도, 섭취 이유에 있어 학년과 유의한 연관성이 있었다(p < 0.05). 남자 어린이가 여자 어린이보다 지식 수준은 높았으나(p < 0.05), 태도는 낮고 또 섭취 빈도가 높았다. 학년이 높을수록 어린이 기호식품에 대한 지식과 태도 수준이 높아지고 다양한 정보 습득 경로를 가졌으나(p < 0.05), 또한 섭취 빈도가 높았다. 이러한 결과는 조사대상자의 지식과 태도/행동의 불일치를 나타낸다. 그러므로 학생들의 주요 정보 습득 경로인 학교급식 프로그램과 학교 및 가정에서의 식품위생/안전교육이 더욱 향상되어야 함을 나타낸다. 더불어 학교주변에서 불량식품에 대한 규제도 강화되어야 할 것이다.

This study was performed to investigate hygienic behavior of food workers on the awareness of hand-washing, and the microbial load of their hands. This study focused on the comparison of fast food restaurant workers and full-service restaurant workers. A questionnaire survey and microbiological analysis were carried out for thirty fast food restaurant workers and forty full-service restaurant workers. Samples for microbiological analysis were collected through the glove-juice method from the hands of the food workers, and were analyzed for the presence of aerobic plate counts, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Microbiological analysis was done according to the Food Code of Korea. In the survey, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the fast food restaurant workers and full-service restaurant workers in the use of hand washing tools and method of turning off water. More full-service restaurant workers responded to wash their hands after touching face, hair, or clothes; after handling raw food materials, and more fast food restaurant workers periodically (p < 0.05). Aerobic plate counts were higher in fast food restaurant workers while total coliforms were higher in fullservice restaurant workers (p < 0.05). No remarkable difference was found between the two groups in the load of fecal coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. Poor hand hygiene practices were indicated by the positive results for E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food workers in both groups. The findings of this study emphasize the need for strict adherence to hand hygiene compliance among the food workers.

Inadequate food handling and poor hand hygiene play a major role in the occurrence of foodborne diseases. The objective of this study was to find out if the level of microbial contamination on the hands of food preparers varies by time during their working period. This study focused on the contamination of aerobic plate count,total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Sampling from left hand and right hand of twenty food preparers was done with glove-juice method at every two hours during their work. Microbiological testing was conducted according to the Food Code of Korea. The microbiological load on the hands was changed over time. Samples taken from their hands before work and at 8 hours showed higher levels of bacteria than those taken at 2, 4, and 6 hours during work and/or after work (p < 0.05). The contamination levels of microorganisms were consistently higher in right hand than in left hand. Poor hand hygiene practices were indicated by the positive results for total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food preparers. This study indicates food preparers' hands can be a vehicle of pathogen during their work. The results of this study emphasize the importance of hand hygiene education and training targeting the food preparers.

This study was performed to investigate awareness of hand washing, hand washing behavior, and the levels of indicator microorganisms on hands of food handlers who work in the food court and cafeteria of a university campus. The three methods used were questionnaire survey by interview, direct observation in restrooms, and microbiological examination according to the Food Code of Korea. A positive attitude toward hand washing compliance was reported by the responded food handlers; however, improper hand washing and poor hand hygiene of the food handlers were recognized by the unnoticed direct observation. Significant differences were found between the questionnaire survey and the direct observation (p < 0.05) in hand washing compliance after using the toilet, duration of hand washing, use of hand washing agent, washing different parts of the hands, hand-drying method, temperature of water, and method of turning off the water. Samples taken from their hands before work showed higher level of standard plate count, total and fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli than those taken after washing with water. After washing hands with antiseptic liquid soap, the bacterial populations including Staphylococcus aureus on hands were dramatically reduced. This study indicates that there is a remarkable difference between the food handlers' awareness of hand washing and their hand washing behavior. Poor hand washing compliance and hand hygiene were indicated by the positive results of total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, and S. aureus on hands of some food handlers. The findings of this study suggest that the hand hygiene of the food handlers need to be improved. More training/education on hand washing and hand hygiene of the food handlers should be necessary.

Hand-washing is one of the most important factors in infection control and in preventing crosscontamination. The objective of this study was to investigate female university students’ awareness of hand-washing, their hand washing practices, and the difference between their awareness and practices. A self-administered questionnaire survey and direct observation in restrooms were separately carried out in a university campus and over four weeks’ period. A total of 97.4% of the survey respondents claimed to wash their hands after using toilet, and 98.2% of the observed students actually did so according to the unnoticed observational study. However, only 6.3% of the students who washed their hands in the direct observation washed for more than 10 seconds, although 46.4% of respondents in the survey reported that they usually wash their hands for more than 10 seconds. Among the observed students who washed their hands, only 0.9% used soap, and 0.9% washed four parts of their hands. Paper towel was the most common hand-drying method in the direct observation and also in the survey. Significant differences were found in duration, use of soap, part of washing, and hand-drying method between the questionnaire survey and the direct observation (p<0.05). This study indicates that there is a noticeable difference between the awareness of handwashing and hand-washing practices among female university students. Further research should examine hand-washing practices of female university students in restrooms outside the university campus.