This study analyzed consumer needs for the development of elderly-friendly HMR products in China. In developing the products, items needed to be improved, types and packages of the necessary products, additional improvements and food preferences were investigated. According to the demographic characteristics of elderly Chinese consumers, these was analyzed as well. A survey was conducted on a total of 370 elderly people, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 program. Items related to product quality safety, such as “marks of origin by ingredient”, “rich nutrients”, “expansion of letter size of packaging”, “rich nutrients” and “clear manufacturing date and expiration date”, were required to develop HMR products. The types of products that should be developed were porridge and noodles, and the packaging types that should be developed were eco-friendly packaging and recycled packaging. In addition, “low-calorie HMR”, “development of various seasonings”, “use of eco-friendly food ingredients” and “HMR to digest easily” should be improved. The demand for product improvement and food preference showed significant differences according to the degree of education, monthly income and oral health. The results were intended to prepare basic data for setting the direction when developing elderlyfriendly HMR.

The purpose of this study was to nut a survey on the seasonal menu and consumer's acceptance test of free meals for the elderly facility in Sungnam Region. The elderly meals of the free lunch meal service were mainly composed of staple food, hot soup, and three kinds of side dishes. Questionare for accentance test was developed based on the seasonal menu including 13 kinds of cooked rices, 43 kinds of soups and 94 kinds of side dishes. The test was run for 104 elderly living and receving the service in the area. Average age of the subjects was 75.9 and 43% was male 57% was female. The 81% and 88% of the subject answered 'yes' on the intake of breakfast and dinner respectively representing high percentages of regular meal habits of the elderly. The cooked rice with black beans had significantly the highest acceptance score among the rice group and soups prepared with chunggukjang and cabbage had higher accentance scores(P<0.05). In the side dish groups, broiled eed, croakers, and various kinds of namuls had relatively higher scores than the others with significant difference at P<0.05.