A survey was conducted to examine the effect of food irradiation education on college students' knowledge and acceptance of food irradiation. The instrument for the knowledge and acceptance of food irradiation was administered before and after food irradiation education, to 150 students majoring in food and nutrition or food technology in the Chungnam National University. Before the education approximately 93% of the respondents did not know that radioactivity dose not remain in food after irradiation; whereas, after education half of them thought that radioactivity dose not remain in irradiated food. Knowledge about food irradiation has improved through education. The education significantly increased all the mean scores of need for food irradiation and willingness to use irradiated foods for the six food groups (p<0.01). The education significantly decreased the mean scores of concern about the irradiated food for all the six food groups (p<0.01). Although the responses to irradiated foods are, in general, negative or neutral even after education, the mean scores of acceptance of the irradiated foods have improved through education in all the six food groups (p<0.01). In conclusion, this study showed that food irradiation education may positively affect the college students' knowledge and acceptance of food irradiation, and that the development of both the appropriate detection methods to identify irradiated foods and the education programs to enlighten the college students are needed.

A survey was conducted to examine the knowledge and acceptance of food irradiation in order to provide baseline data required in the development of food irradiation education programs for college students. 150 students majoring in food and nutrition or food technology in the Chungnam National University were chosen for a survey. The results are as follows. First, college students' knowledge about food irradiation is scanty. Knowledge assessment showed that 56% of the participants had previously heard of food irradiation. 68% of the respondents thought that radioactivity remains in food after irradiation and 25.3% of them were not sure whether radioactivity remains in food after irradiation or not. Only half of the respondents thought that nutrient loss due to irradiation is equal to or lower than that due to cooking or freezing. Second, approximately 56% of the respondents showed that food irradiation is somewhat or strongly needed for meat or fish; whereas, over 60% of them showed that food irradiation is not needed for grain, vegetable and fruit. Almost 40% of the respondents were seriously concerned about irradiation of vegetables and fruits; whereas, they showed less concern about spice irradiation. More than half of the respondents were not willing to use irradiated food in all the six food groups. Third, the correlation analysis showed that the need of food irradiation is negatively correlated with concerning about the irradiated fish and fruits, but positively correlated with willingness to use irradiated food in all the five food groups, except in spices. Concern about the irradiated food is negatively correlated with willingness to use irradiated food from all the six food groups. Fourth, almost all the respondents (over 90%) agreed that the irradiated food labeling is required as well as the development of proper methods to identify irradiated foods.

본 연구는 충남 S시 방사선학과, 식품생물학과 1, 2, 3학년에 재학 중인 208명(남자 93명, 여자 115명) 을 대상으로 방사선 식품조사에 대한 인지도 및 수용도를 설문지 이용하여 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 방사선 식품조사에 대해 알고 있다고 답변한 대상자는 전체 208명 중 81명(38.9%)으로 나타났으며, 학과, 학년별 분포에서는 방사선학과의 3학년 32명(15.4%)이 가장 많이 알고 있었고, 식품생물공학과 학 생들은 대부분 모르는 것으로 나타났다. 2. 방사선 조사식품에 대해 가장 신뢰하는 기관이나 단체에서 식품의 안정성을 과학적으로 입증한다 면 이를 “전적으로 구입하겠다”고 답변한 대상자는 전체 208명 중 방사선학과 50명(24%), 식품생물공학 과 12명(5.77%) 총 62명(29.8%)으로 나타났으며, 132명(63.5%)은 “모르겠다”라고 답하였는데 이는 방사 선 조사식품에 대해 정확한 정보부족으로 인식하지 못하는 것으로 사료된다. 방사선 조사식품의 수용도 와 성별과 학년별간의 유의성은 없는 것으로 나타났다. 3. 최근 정부에서는 학교급식 식중독사고에 대처하기 위하여 급식식품에 방사선 조사를 하겠다고 하 는 방침에 학생들의 생각을 분석한 것으로 학교급식의 식중독 사고 방지를 위하여 급식식품에 방사선 을 조사한다는 정부 방침에 총 204명 중 “매우 필요하다”고 답한 응답자는 18명(8.8%), “대체로 필요하 다”는 87명(42.6%)으로 총 105명(51.5%)이 긍정적으로 생각하고 있는 것으로 나타났으며, “모르겠다”고 답한 응답자는 87명(42.6%), “필요하지 않다”는 12명(5.9%)으로 총 99명(48.5%)이 부정적으로 생각하는 것으로 나타났고, 방사선 조사 식품의 필요성과 정부의 대처방안에 대한 일원 다변량 분산분석 결과 유 의성이 있는 것으로 나타났다.