This study analyzes the opinion of the nutritionists working in the elementary schools in Busan on the utilization, recognition, satisfaction, education, knowledge, prospects for the future, and etc. in the course of bringing in environment-friendly a...
This study analyzes the opinion of the nutritionists working in the elementary schools in Busan on the utilization, recognition, satisfaction, education, knowledge, prospects for the future, and etc. in the course of bringing in environment-friendly agricultural products in school meals. Based on this research, this report was conducted in search of establishing basic materials to improve the quality and to assure the safety of the school meals. With these goals set, 140 nutritionists in the elementary schools in Busan participated in the survey.
The results of this survey are summarized as follows.
First, 95.0% agreed on bringing in environment-friendly agricultural products in school meals. The survey showed noticeable aspects as to the usage of environment-friendly agricultural products depending on the employment structure, years of experience of the nutritionists, and family. Problems related to prices showed 39.7% appearing to be the biggest problem when using environment-friendly agricultural products in school meals.
Second, 88.6% in school meals used environment-friendly agricultural products and indicated differences in families and in the marital status when using environment-friendly agricultural products. More than 5% spent 52.5% on environment-friendly agricultural products in their monthly food cost.
Third, 97.9% responded in recognizing the differences in the environment-friendly agricultural products and in the common agricultural products. Satisfaction of environment-friendly agricultural products in their general features showed relevant differences in the employment form and experience of the nutritionist regarding the taste, age, educational background, and experience of the nutritionist regarding the nutritive aspects, educational background regarding the shape, the usage of environment-friendly agricultural products at home regarding safety, and educational background, employment form with respect to diversity.
Fourth, 90.7% responded as being educated of the knowledge on environment-friendly agricultural products and indicated noticeable differences in accordance with the age, employment form, experience of the nutritionist, marital status, and the usage of environment-friendly agricultural products at home. Among the students, 75.7% responded as being educated and also showed differences in accordance with the educational background, employment form, experience of the nutritionist, marital status, and the usage of environment-friendly agricultural products at home.
Fifth, more than 30% of school meals were revealed to be using environment-friendly agricultural products at the minimum of 29.3% and the expected increased budget by more than 500 won allocated for food cost showed high results of 30.7%. 41.4% responded that the government and the local autonomous entity should be responsible for the raise of school budget on food cost. Moreover, 60.6% claimed to remain on the current status on the decision to purchase environment-friendly agricultural products when the charge for school meal stays the same.
As a result of this research, the utilization of environment-friendly agricultural products in school meals would have to be gradually established as it is necessary for the health of the student and for the safety of the food ingredients. In order to achieve this, there would have to be a specific enactment of law to support the superior agricultural products for each ward, district, and city. With the help of the government, a budget will have to be made and support the utilization of environment-friendly agricultural products in a more practical way. Furthermore, by establishing non-profit organizations such as the school meal supporting center, superior food ingredients that are inexpensive, diverse, and trustworthy would have to be provided to schools. Last but not least, along with the improvement of school meals, school nutritionists and students will have to be educated so that they have a thorough knowledge of environment-friendly agricultural products, choose appropriate food ingredients, and form desirable food habits.