• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 2016

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the current status of management of students affected by food allergy and provide basic data necessary to school foodservice. A survey was conducted on 300 nutrition teachers (dietitians). For food allergy management, 79.3% of participants regularly checked on students with food allergy. The rate of providing allergy-free or alternative food for students with food allergy was 35.7%; and the reasons for not providing such food was 'lack of cooking time and employees' (69.4%). Furthermore, 79.7% of participants provided nutrition education and counseling for students with food allergy and the reasons for not providing education and counseling was 'lack of time' (59.0%). Nutrition teachers (dietitians) with experience of job training related to food allergy comprised 53.7%. The mean score of importance of food allergy management was 4.02/5.00. The items with high scores of importance of ${\geq}4.20/5.00points$ were periodical check on students with food allergy, sending newsletters or homepage posting of foods causing allergy; however, provision of allergy-free or alternative food scored 3.64/5.00 points. The score of importance was significantly higher in those who checked on students with food allergy (p<0.05), offered allergy-free or alternative food (p<0.01), and in those with experience of job training (p<0.05) than those who did not. Therefore, in order to manage students with food allergy, nutrition teachers (dietitians) require on-going training on food allergy in order to practice provision of alternative foods and administrative support to the cooking personnel and facilities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of food allergies in Korean children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 10.9% in 1995 to 12.6% in 2012 according to nationwide population studies. Treatment for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic-related foods and epinephrine auto-injector (EPI) for accidental allergic reactions. This study compared knowledge and perception of food allergy labeling and dietary practices of students. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the fourth to sixth grade students from an elementary school in Yongin. A total of 437 response rate (95%) questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food allergy among respondents was 19.7%, and the most common food allergy-related symptoms were urticaria, followed by itching, vomiting and nausea. Food allergens, other than 12 statutory food allergens, included cheese, cucumber, kiwi, melon, clam, green tea, walnut, grape, apricot and pineapple. Children with and without food allergy experience had a similar level of knowledge on food allergies. Children with food allergy experience thought that food allergy-related labeling on school menus was not clear or informative. CONCLUSION: To understand food allergies and prevent allergic reactions to school foodservice among children, schools must provide more concrete and customized food allergy education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2016

Objectives: Food allergy appears to be increasing in prevalence and can potentially result in significant damaging impact on children's mental and physical health. This study investigated how dietitians/nutrition teachers in Incheon, where a fatal fool allergy incidence occurred, manage food allergy issues in school lunch systems. Methods: A survey with a pre-tested questionnaire was conducted with 358 dietitians/nutrition teachers in Incheon area. The final analytical sample included questionnaire data from 208 study participants (58.1%). Statistical analyses used SPSS ver 19.0. Results: A total of 99.5% respondents reported having received food allergy education. The respondents showed a correction rate of the food allergy test slightly higher than 70%, where nutrition teachers and respondents working in elementary schools had correction rates higher than dietitians and those working in middle schools (p<0.05). All respondents reported regular monitoring to identify students with food allergy and making notification of allergy-prone foods on menu in their school. More nutrition teachers provided "elimination meals" (57.6%) or "replacement meals" (37.0%) than dietitians (43.1%, 19.8%, respectively) (p<0.05). Elimination and replacement meals were provided more in elementary schools than in middle schools (p<0.05). Although counseling students with food allergy on nutrition was done by 64.9% of respondents, the areas of counseling were limited to basics of food allergy and how to use the notification system on menu. To prepare for handling food allergy events effectively, networks with regional clinics or hospitals (34.1%), hotline with parents (87.4%), and keeping an Epi-Pen ready (46.7% elementary school) were established. Only 34.1% of respondents knew how to use Epi-Pens. Conclusions: Dietitians and nutrition teachers in Incheon widely adapted food allergy management methods. It appears that education/training on food allergy for dietitians/nutrition teachers can move on from teaching basics of food allergy to providing applicable food allergy management methods at school system.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate how to manage food allergy of pre-school children, focusing on the current status of the food allergy in childcare facilities in Hanam which have less than 100 children. Methods: Targeting 159 preschool childcare facilities, survey was carried out for a month in March, 2015. Recovery rate was 66.7%. 106 surveys out of 159 were available for analysis using SPSS statistical program version 19.0. Results: Among 106 facilities, 58 (54.7%) reported that none of their children had a food allergy and 48 (45.3%) reported one more children had a food allergy. Total number of children having a food allergy was 71. Among them, the occurrences of food allergy in males were significantly more than that of the females (p<0.001). Further, children under 2 years of age had significantly more food allergy than the other ages (p < 0.001). The allergic inducing foods were nuts (23.3%), egg (17.8%), milk and dairy products (16.4%), fish and shellfish (13.7%), instant foods (12.3%), fruits (8.2%), soybean (4.1%), meat (2.7%), and cereals (1.4%) in order, and 6 children out of 71 were allergic to more than 2 food items. The clinical symptoms of the food allergy were a skin reaction (87.9%) and an oropharyngeal & respiratory reaction (12.1%). Majority of childcare facilities (80.3%) didn't serve alternative foods for children with food allergy. Necessity for food allergy education was significantly higher in facilities with food allergy issues than without such issues. Conclusions: The Center for Children's Foodservice Management need to educate workers of childcare facilities and parents about managing food allergy and enforce a plan to provide alternative menu to children with food allergies.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.426-439
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to measure the food allergy (FA) awareness and management by the parents of preschool children. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with the parents of preschool children. The questionnaire was designed to identify the prevalence of food allergies, requirements of food allergy support and differences in food management according to the presence or absence allergic diseases, using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. After excluding incomplete responses, the data of 158 parents of preschool children (90.3%) was used for statistical analysis. Results: The rate of the preschool children who had experienced food allergy (FA, ever) was 38.6% while diagnosed for food allergy by doctor (Diagnosis of FA, ever) was 17.7%. Forty nine preschool children (80.3%) had food restriction, and twenty three of them (37.7%) had self-restriction without diagnosis. The consumption frequencies of allergenic foods in FA group, such as ramyeon, noodles, bread, eggs, yogurt and ice cream were significantly (p<0.001) lower than those of the other two groups. The major allergenic foods were eggs, milk, wheat and processed foods in FA group. The overall food allergy-related knowledge level of parents was insufficient. Only 26 parents (16.5%) had received training about food allergies. All parents wanted to receive food allergy-related supports. In addition, most of parents wanted information on substitute menu for children with food allergy. Conclusions: This study identified a lack of food allergy training for the parents of preschool children and the necessity for food allergy education. Food allergy-related supports, such as menus without allergenic ingredients, guidelines for managing food allergy & anaphylaxis emergency care plan etc, should be provided to the parents in order to avoid events related to food allergies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.153-158
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• 2012

Food allergy is an important public health problem affecting 5% of infants and children in Korea. Food allergy is defined as an immune response triggered by food proteins. Food allergy is highly associated with atopic dermatitis and is one of the most common triggers of potentially fatal anaphylaxis in the community. Sensitization to food allergens can occur in the gastrointestinal tract (class 1 food allergy) or as a consequence of cross reactivity to structurally homologous inhalant allergens (class 2 food allergy). Allergenicity of food is largely determined by structural aspects, including cross-reactivity and reduced or enhanced allergenicity with cooking that convey allergenic characteristics to food. Management of food allergy currently focuses on dietary avoidance of the offending foods, prompt recognition and treatment of allergic reactions, and nutritional support. This review includes definitions and examines the prevalence and management of food allergies and the characteristics of food allergens.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2015

A food allergy is described an adverse immunological reaction to a food item. It is increasingly common problem among infants, children, teenagers, and adults worldwide. This study examines food allergy knowledge, attitudes, practices, and health consciousness among college students studying food and nutrition and childhood education. A total of 235 food and nutrition and childhood education college students participated in the survey. According to the results, 41.3% of the respondents were aware of legal obligations associated labeling food items for food allergy; 14.0% were diagnosed with food allergy by their doctor; and 10.2% knew about food allergy symptoms. Food and nutrition students were more knowledgeable than childhood education students. The mean for food allergy attitudes was 4.22, and the score for food and nutrition students was higher than that for childhood education students. The mean for food allergy behaviors was 2.16, and the score of food and nutrition students was higher than that of childhood education students. The importance of food allergens was significantly higher than performance. These results suggest that, to improve the management of food allergies in foodservice operations, education programs regarding food allergies should be provided food and nutrition and childhood education students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.675-681
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate perception of the Food Allergy Labeling System (FALS) of school foodservice in female middle school students. The subjects were 148 female middle school students in the Incheon metropolitan area. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Only 20.9% of subjects had experience of food allergy education. There was no significant difference in food allergy knowledge by grade. The scores of perception of food allergy labeling by school foodservice were significantly higher in lower grade students (p<0.001). In all grades, highest scores were observed for 'food allergy labeling is necessary', whereas the lowest scores were for 'I check the food allergy labeling'. The percentages of subjects who wanted to participate in food allergy education were significantly different (p<0.01); 73.8% in 1st grade, 50.0% in 2nd grade, and 35.7% in 3rd grade. For desired education contents to enhance perception of FALS, 57.5% of subjects answered 'emergency management' and 23.0% said 'information of food allergy causing food'. Therefore, it is necessary to increase food allergy education and educate female middle school students according to grade in order to enhance perception of FALS.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.512-524
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the food allergy-related knowledge, awareness, and performance of dietitians at children's hospitals, depending on whether or not they have a clinical dietitian certificate. Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 41 dieticians at children's hospitals registered as a part of the Korean Hospital Association. The survey consisted of questionnaires examining general characteristics, nutritional counseling-related characteristics, and food allergy-related characteristics (food allergy-related knowledge, awareness, and performance). We examined differences according to the status of clinical dietitian certification. Results: The proportion of subjects who were holders of clinical dietitian certificates was 48.8%. There were differences between holders of clinical dietitian certificates and non-holders as follows. Regarding nutritional awareness and performance, 'needs to provide nutrition counseling in children's hospitals', 'providing nutrition counseling services in working hospitals', and 'whether there is a nutrition counseling room' scored higher among holders of clinical dietitian certificates than non-holders. Holders of clinical dietitian certificates showed higher scores for knowledge of food allergy symptoms and food allergy management than non-holders. For food allergy awareness and performance, 'self-assessment of food allergy knowledge understanding level', 'awareness of open oral food challenge (OFC)', 'recognition of the need for education and counseling on food allergy for patients / guardians', and 'food allergy related educational experience' scored higher among holders of clinical dietitians certificates than in non-holders. Conclusions: Children's hospital dietitians with a clinical dietitian certificate showed high knowledge, awareness, and performance related to food allergies. It is thus necessary to employ a clinical dietitian for food allergy management in children's hospitals. In addition, training and conservative education are necessary for the management of food allergies for children's hospital dietitians.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.90-94
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• 2022

Food allergy is one of the adverse food reactions, which is developed by immunological reactions. Food allergy is increasing in prevalence among children and adults. In the diagnosis, food challenge is confirmative with history and laboratory tests. Avoidance of culprit food is the only preventive method, especially in patients with severe symptoms. In some food allergies, cross-reactivity among allergens should be considered. Latex-fruit/vegetable syndrome and pollen food allergy syndrome are well-understood phenotypes of food allergy related to cross reaction. Red meat allergy is recently described as one of tick-borne diseases. In a rare phenotype of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, factors affecting the absorption of food allergen are important in its pathophysiology.