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KMID : 0881720160310020074
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Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
2016 Volume.31 No. 2 p.74 ~ p.84
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Comparative Analysis on the Perceptions for Food Additives Between Elementary School Teachers and Nutrition Teachers
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Kim Jeong-Weon
Lee Eun-Ju
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Abstract
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Literacy on food additives of elementary school teachers (ET) and nutrition teachers (NT) could be influential factor on safe dietary education for school children. Therefore, the perceptions and information needs on food additives were surveyed from 351 elementary school teachers and nutrition teachers in metropolitan area of Korea, and the basic data for the promotion of risk communication on food additives among them were obtained. Compared to ET who consider ‘taste’ (39.1%) as the most important factor while purchasing food, NT considered ‘safety’ (68.1%) first (p < 0.001). Among the food labelling items, the level of understanding on food additives was the lowest both in ET (3.53) and NT (4.17), and NT showed better levels of understanding overall on food labels. Both ET and NT regarded hazardous factors of food as environmental pollutants, foodborne pathogens, and food additives in order, and tended to select ‘no additives’ or ‘no artificial color’ products while purchasing processed food. Although NT answered that they know all food additives had been passed the evaluation of safety and effectiveness tests (100%) and have standards of use (81.9%), majority of them (87.5%) believed the consumption of food additives are harmful on human health. ET (75.2%) also regarded food additives as dangerous materials. Above results suggested the necessity of proper and enough risk communication for both ET and NT. Both ET and NT wanted to have information on the safety or hazard of food additives. Most preferred media to get the information on food additives was TV (3.80) among ET and lecture (3.65) among NT. ET and NT trusted hospital, research institution/universities or the personnels working in these institutions as the provider of information on food additives. The result that the trust levels of ET and NT on government were relative low suggested the weakness of risk communication in Korean government.Although ET and NT answered that they do not trust mass media, their behaviors were affected by them such as reading food labels in ET (39.4%) and reducing the consumption of food additives in NT (50%). They also indicated mass media’s problem of sensitive approach on food additives and asked the urgent reaction of government by
providing sound information through experts on food additives. Above results revealed that ET and NT have different
perceptions and information needs on food additives, therefore, proper risk communication should be provided for them to serve as dietary educators for elementary school children.
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KEYWORD
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food additives, elementary school teachers, nutrition teachers, risk communication
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