Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회지)

The Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety (한국식품위생안전성학회)
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Comparative Analysis on the Perceptions for Food Additives Between Elementary School Teachers and Nutrition Teachers

식품첨가물에 대한 초등교사와 영양교사의 인식 비교

  • Kim, Jeong-Weon (Dept. of Science and Technology Education for Life, Seoul National University of Education) ;
  • Lee, Eun-Ju (Major of Elementary Science & Technol. and Computer Sci. Education, Graduate School, Seoul National University of Education)
  • 김정원 (서울교육대학교 생활과학교육과) ;
  • 이은주 (서울교육대학교 교육전문대학원 초등생활과학.컴퓨터교육전공)
  • Received : 2016.01.29
  • Accepted : 2016.02.17
  • Published : 2016.04.30
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Abstract

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.

초등교사와 영양교사는 어린이 식생활 교육자로서 이들의 식품안전 및 위해에 대한 인식은 식생활교육에 큰 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 주요 식품 위해 요인으로 오인되고 있는 식품첨가물에 대해 수도권 소재 초등학교에 근무하는 초등교사(279명)와 영양교사(72명)를 대상으로 식품첨가물에 대한 인식 및 정보요구도에 대한 설문조사를 실시하여 분석함으로써, 식품첨가물에 대한 올바른 정보전달 촉진을 위한 기초자료를 확보하고자 하였다. 맛을 우선하는 교사(39.1%)에 비해 영양교사는 식품을 구입할 때 안전성(68.1%)을 가장 먼저 고려하여 유의한 차이(p < 0.001)를 보였고, 제조사, 가격 유통기한 외에 교사는 원산지(32.5%), 영양교사는 주성분(50.0%)을 우선 확인한다고 하였다(p < 0.01). 식품표시 이해도는, 주성분, 식품첨가물, 영양성분, 인증마크 등 모든 부분에서 영양교사가 높았으며, 교사(3.53), 영양교사(4.17) 모두 식품첨가물 관련 표시 이해도가 가장 낮게 나타났다. 교사, 영양교사 모두 식품의 안전을 위협하는 요인으로 환경오염물질, 식중독 세균과 바이러스, 식품첨가물 순서로 응답하였고, 가공식품 구매시 '무첨가', '무색소' 표시가 있는 식품을 구매한다는 응답 비율이 높았다. 또한 영양교사는 식품첨가물이 안전성, 유효성 평가를 거치고(100%), 사용기준 및 규격이 정해져 있다(81.9%)는 것을 안다고 응답했음에도 불구하고, 교사(75.2%)보다 많은 87.5%가 식품첨가물 섭취는 건강에 위험하다고 응답하는 괴리를 보여 이들에 대한 올바른 정보전달의 필요성을 확인할 수 있었다. 교사 및 영양교사 모두 식품첨가물에 대해 가장 알고싶어 하는 정보는 '안전성과 위험성'이었고, 정보매체로는 교사는 TV(3.80)를, 영양교사는 강의(3.65)를 가장 선호하였다. 식품첨가물에 대한 정보 제공기관이나 제공자에 대한 신뢰도에서 정부기관이나 식약처 공무원에 대한 신뢰도는 병원, 대학연구기관, 의사, 연구원 등에 대한 신뢰도 보다 낮았다. 대중매체의 정보는 신뢰하지 않는다는 비율이 높았으나, 대중매체를 접한 후 교사(39.4%)는 식품첨가물 표시를 보게 된다고 하였고, 영양교사(50%)는 식품첨가물이 함유된 식품을 줄인다고 응답하여 그 영향력을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 대중매체 내용이 선정적 감성적 접근을 하여 문제가 있다고 답변하며, 정부가 잘못된 정보를 곧바로 바로잡을 수 있도록 전문가 집단을 활용하여 균형적으로 정보를 제공하여야 한다고 지적하였다. 본 연구 결과, 초등교사와 영양교사는 식품첨가물에 대해 각기 다른 인식과 정보요구도를 보이고 있어 어린이들에게 올바른 식생활교육을 할 수 있도록 식품첨가물에 대한 정보전달 노력이 요구된다.

Keywords

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