Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate school dietitians' use of processed and packaged foods in Incheon. This study was carried out through a questionnaire and the subjects were 203 school dietitians in Incheon. The results are summarized as follows. Dairy product was the processed and packaged food used most frequently by the subjects for school lunch. Most subjects used processed and packaged foods for school lunch once or twice per week The first criteria for their choosing processed and packaged foods was manufacturing company. Also major reason for their using processed and packaged foods for school lunch was saving cooking time, easy purchase, hygienical packing and less garbage. The most common information source on processed and packaged foods for school lunch was promotion of food company. The subjects checked labelling of processed and packaged foods in order of open-date, manufacturer, origin of product, nutrition facts, ingredients and food additives. Some results were significantly different among the subjects by employment school, type of meal management and cost per meal. For children and adolescents' nutrition and well-being through school lunch, it is necessary to prepare a database of the processed and packaged foods and education program concerning nutrition labelling and food safety.

• Keywords: processed and packaged foods; school lunch; dietitian