A Study on Purchase Patterns and Recognition of Processed Foods in Elementary. Middle and High School Meal Service Dietitians

초.중.고 학교급식에 따른 영양사의 가공식품 이용실태와 인지도 조사

The results of this study on Purchase Patterns and Recognition of Processed Foods of School Meal Service Dietitians of elementary, junior and senior high schools in Chonbuk and Deagu Area are as follows : First, the rate of single cooking of the schools surveyed is 100% in Deagu and 66.9% in Chonbuk, and Chonbuk has more small-meal service schools which caused a higher labor cost than Deagu, Secondly, schools in Deagu has purchased not completely processed vegetables and fish and shells than Chonbuk, and Chonbuk(66.9%) has served more Kim-chi products than Deagu(41.6%). Thirdly, nutritional effects and preference have been considered as school dietitians make plans for the menu. Fourthly, the opinions of the school dietitians about processed food are in the order of high sodium content, convenience and the use of preservative, and Chonbuk has responded positively to the articles of future oriented quality, cooking usage and variety while Deagu has thought of it as an economical. The expected effects from the use of processed foods are in the order of saving labor time and student preferences. Fifthly, meat products have been frequently used and more frozen meat products have been used in Deagu and senior high school than Chonbuk and elementary and junior high schools, last, preferences on processed food are in the order of frozen sea food, noodles. dried sea food, processed vegetable and fruit, dairy goods and others. Senior high school dietitians have preferred packed meat products and other frozen processed food more than elementary and junior high school dietitians. The rate of serving processed food had a different depending on the number of students. In this study, dietitians recognize the harmful effects of processed foods over the merits, which means that the rate of using processed food is low. The proper usage of processed foods is thought to improve the preference of students, to have cooking time shortened and to help manage the meal service sanitarily and efficiently. Therefore, companies producing processed foods should do their best to develop safety and health oriented foods to gain the credibility, and the government should make new regulations for people to purchase and obtain processed foods without any doubt.