Awareness of Food Labeling by Sex, Age and Type of Dietary Lifestyle Among Adults in Gwangju and Jeolla Regions

This study surveyed 473 adults in Gwangju and Jeolla regions to investigate the differences in food labeling awareness differences by sex, age, and dietary lifestyle cluster (low involvement group, convenience pursuit group and health & safety pursuit group), and the results of the study are as follows. First, 38.9% males and 61.1% females, 54.5% aged 20-39 and 45.5% aged 40-60 were the subjects of the study. Second, in terms of age, food label awareness (p =.012) and frequency of checking food label (p =.007) were significantly higher in aged 40-60 group than that in aged 20 to 39 group. As a result of the difference in food labeling awareness according to the dietary lifestyle cluster, the awareness of food labeling, the frequency of checking food label, and the need for a food labeling system were all significantly higher (p ＜.001) for the convenience pursuit group than the low involvement group. In addition, it was found that the health & safety pursuit group was significantly higher (p <.001) than the convenience pursuit group. Third, as a result of the difference in the perception of important food labeling by sex, age, and dietary lifestyle cluster, the expiration date was recognized as the most important compared to price and country of origin, etc. Fourth, the correlation between food labeling awareness, frequency of checking food label, necessity of food labeling system, and food labeling evaluation among food labeling awareness items showed positive (+) correlation in all cases. Therefore, it is necessary to increase interest in food labeling awareness by segmenting adults by age and dietary lifestyle cluster and provide customized motivation, and to develop action-oriented education programs to become dietary managers who can consume sustainably.