This study investigated the possibility of reducing sodium and sugar intake in the Bulgogi bowl and yogurt, respectively, by utilizing food and non-food factors. Sodium and sugar replacers were the target food factors, and eating environment was the target non-food factor. The sodium content of Bulgogi bowls was reduced by 40%, and a flavor enhancer was applied to compensate for the reduced saltiness. Low calorie sweeteners, such as sucralose and stevia, were used to lower the sugar content of yogurt by 30%. Consumers were asked to evaluate the samples in one of the three eating environments: private booth evaluation, BOOTH; watching video clips during evaluation, VIDEO; conversation with friends during evaluation, FRIEND. The results showed that applying sodium or sugar replacers were effective in lowering sodium or sugar intake, respectively, without compromising the acceptance level of samples. Significant influences of the eating environment were observed on liking and perception of samples, but the influence patterns were not consistent between Bulgogi bowl and yogurt.

This study assessed effective strategies to reduce the sodium intake among consumers using pork cutlet sauce as a model food system. Original pork cutlet sauce and sodium-reduced sauce (29% reduced by a salt substitute) were analyzed to characterize the sensory properties using descriptive analysis. The effects of sodium-reduction of the sauce, consumer type (nutrition teachers vs. general consumers), information related to the sodium content, serving method, and consumer’s health, taste and sodium-related attitudes on the consumer’s preference, perception, and intake of the sauce were analyzed using a consumer test. In descriptive analysis, the original and sodium-reduced sauce showed similar sensory characteristics but did not differ in saltiness. In the consumer test, there were no significant differences in the overall preference levels between the two sauces. On the other hand, there were significant differences in preference and perception between nutrition teachers and general consumer groups, which were due largely to their age as well as the health and sodium-related attitudes and nutritional knowledge differences. Sodium-reduced information decreased the perceived saltiness intensity. In addition, reducing sodium intake by serving pork cutlet sauce in a bottle can be an effective strategy because this serving method increased the acceptance and induced the smaller intake of sauce.

마늘의 다양한 생리활성 기능은 잘 알려져 있음에도 불구하고 휘발성 황 화합물을 비롯한 마늘의 독특한 향과 맛으로 인해 가공식품 및 건강기능식품으로 활용하는데 있어 제한점이 많다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 대표적인 김치 발효균인 Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 3104를 이용하여 마늘을 유산 발효시키고, 발효 마늘을 다시 적정 온도로 가열 처리함으로써 발효과정과 열처리가 마늘의 휘발성 황화합물과 항산화 활성에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 평가하고자 하였다. 본 연구의 결과를 요약하자면 다음과 같다. (i)마늘에 존재하는 주요 휘발성 황 화합물인 allyl methyl sulfide 및 allyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide는 발효과정과 발효와 열처리 병행과정에서 감소하였으며 특히 열처리는 마늘의 자극적 향미성분을 감소시키는데 크게 기여하였다. (ii)무처리한 G와 발효를 한 FG, 그리고 발효와 열처리를 병행한 FG-H 간에 유의적인 peroxyl radical 소거활성은 차이는 없었다. (iii) 발효와 열처리를 병행한 FG-H는 마늘시료 G 에 비하여 hydroxyl raidcal 소거활성이 증가하였으며 이 증가된 hydroxyl radical 소거활성은 발효 및 열처리를 통해 새로이 생성된 물질에 의한 환원력 및 metal chelating 활성 증가에 기인된 것으로 추측된다. 이상의 연구결과는 발효 및 열처리를 통해 마늘의 자극적 향미를 개선할 수 있다는 가능성을 제시할 뿐만 아니라, 발효 및 열처리 마늘은 항산화 활성, 특히 hydroxyl radical 소거활성이 증가된 식품개발에 기초자료로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.