Regulatory Approach for Personalized Health Functional Foods Policy based on Consumer Survey = 소비자 설문조사 기반 맞춤형건강기능식품 규제 접근법

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

As the health functional foods (HFFs) market grows, driven by scientific and technological advancements and a focus on prevention-oriented disease management, consumer interest in personalized healthcare services is rising. This study aimed to explore consumer perceptions and requirements for personalized health functional foods (PHFFs) and to develop a regulatory framework that fosters the sector's growth. Through consumer surveys and conjoint analysis, we identified the preferred attributes of PHFFs and the key factors influencing consumer choices. Survey results revealed that although awareness of PHFFs remains low, those who have purchased them are highly satisfied with the product's characteristics and efficacy tailored to their health conditions, showing a strong intention to repurchase. Consumers also demonstrated considerable knowledge about their individual nutrient requirements, indicating a promising growth opportunity for personalized health care services. The findings underscore the importance of understanding public preferences and needs to enhance policy satisfaction and compliance. With the rapid advent of new industries and technologies like PHFFs, it is crucial to accurately reflect stakeholder needs, necessitating a flexible regulatory system. This study emphasizes the importance of strategic campaigns and structured tools to address food-related issues and improve communication among academia, industry, and regulators. Effective policy development could be supported by establishing a system that quantitatively collects feedback for policy formulation and provides scientific evidence. This study highlights the necessity of integrating diverse stakeholder feedback to achieve social consensus and develop adaptive regulatory frameworks in an evolving food regulatory environment.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

과학기술의 발전과 예방중심의 질병 관리가 강조되면서 건강기능식품 시장이 확대되고 있으며, 이에 따라 맞춤형 건강관리 서비스에 대한 소비자들의 관심이 높아지고 있다. 본 연구의 목표는 맞춤형건강기능식품에 대한 소비자 인식과 선호를 조사하고, 관련 산업의 성장을 지원할 수 있는 규제방안을 모색하는 것이다. 소비자 설문조사를 통해 맞춤형건강기능식품의 선호 속성과 소비자 선택에 영향을 미치는 주요 요인을 파악하고자 하였으며 조사 결과, 현재까지 맞춤형건강기능식품에 대한 인지도는 낮은 수준이지만 이를 구매한 사람들은 자신의 건강 상태에 맞춘 제품이라는 특성과 효능에 대해 높은 만족도와 재구매 의향을 보였으며 소비자들은 개인별로 다양한 영양소 요구량에 대해 상당한 수준의 지식을 갖고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 연구결과는 맞춤형 건강관리 서비스의 잠재적 성장 가능성을 시사함과 동시에 정책 만족도와 규정 준수를 향상시키기 위해서는 대중의 선호도와 필요성을 이해하는 것이 중요함을 강조한다. 맞춤형건강기능식품을 비롯한 기존에 없던 신산업과 신기술의 급속한 출현에 따라 이해관계자의 요구를 정확하게 반영하는 유연한 규제 시스템이 필요할 것으로 사료된다. 또한 빠르게 변화하는 식품 규제 환경에서 사회적 합의를 달성하고 효과적인 규제방안을 마련하기 위해 다양한 이해관계자 피드백을 통합하고 학계, 산업계, 규제기관 간의 의사소통을 개선하기 위한 전략과 체계적인 도구의 필요성이 제기되며 정책 수립을 위한 피드백을 정량적으로 수집하고 과학적 근거를 제공하는 시스템을 구축함으로써 효과적인 정책 개발을 지원할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구는 법 시행을 앞둔 상황에서 맞춤형건강기능식품에 대한 소비자 선호도 및 인지도 조사를 실시한 점에서 시의성이 있으며, 소비자 중심의 정책입안을 위해 과학적 근거자료로 활용될 수 있다는 점에서 의의가 있다.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER 1. Introduction 1
• 1.1 The objective and necessity of research 1
• 1.1.1 The objective of research 1
• 1.1.2 The necessity of research 2
• 1.1.3 The procedure of research 4
• 1.2 Theoretical background and previous research on personalized health functional foods (PHFFs) 5
• 1.2.1 Introduction of PHFFs 5
• 1.2.1.1 Background of PHFFs 5
• 1.2.1.2 Definition of PHFFs 12
• 1.2.1.3 Development of PHFFs in the Korea 14
• 1.2.2 PHFFs system in overseas countries 22
• 1.2.3 Analysis of PHFFs trends in the media using text mining 23
• 1.3 The Importance of regulatory science 28
• 1.3.1 The definition of regulatory science 28
• 1.3.2 The Governance of food industry regulations 29
• 1.3.3 Regulatory literacy for adapting to changing environments 30
• 1.4 Theoretical background and prior research on conjoint analysis 33
• 1.4.1 The concept of conjoint analysis 33
• 1.4.2 The previous research of conjoint analysis on HFFs 34
• CHAPTER 2. Research Methodology of Consumer Survey 36
• 2.1 Consumer survey research method 36
• 2.1.1 Selection of research subjects and investigation period 36
• 2.1.2 Questionnaire composition 37
• 2.1.3 Statistical analysis 37
• 2.2 Conjoint analysis methodology 39
• 2.2.1 Conjoint analysis research model design 39
• 2.2.2 Determination of attributes and attribute levels of PHFFs 39
• 2.2.3 Configuration choicest for PHFFs selection 43
• CHAPTER 3. Analyzing Attribute Value for Personalized Health Functional Foods Using Conjoint Analysis 46
• 3.1 The demographic and sociological characteristics of the subjects 46
• 3.2 Recognition of PHFFs according to demographic characteristics 52
• 3.2.1 Awareness of PHFFs according to demographic characteristics 52
• 3.2.2 Purchase experience of PHFFs according to demographic characteristics 54
• 3.2.3 Needs of PHFFs according to demographic characteristics 59
• 3.2.4 Willingness to purchase PHFFs according to demographic characteristics 59
• 3.2.5 Consumer insights on health goals and nutritional variability in HHFs 64
• 3.3 Perception of PHFFs according to purchase experience 73
• 3.3.1 Perception and main purchasing behavior of PHFFs 73
• 3.3.2 Comprehensive attitude to recognition, purchase intentions of PHFFs 78
• 3.3.3 Perception of consumers on nutritional variability and characteristics in PHFFs 90
• 3.4 Perception of PHFFs according to awareness level 95
• 3.4.1 Perception and main purchasing behavior of PHFFs 95
• 3.4.2 Comprehensive attitude to recognition, purchase intentions of PHFFs 103
• 3.4.3 Perception of consumers on nutritional variability and characteristics in PHFFs 110
• 3.5 Categorizing consumer groups based on awareness and purchase experience with PHFFs 115
• CHAPTER 4. DISCUSSION 123
• 4.1 Policy recommendations through consumer survey results 123
• 4.2 Collaborative governance and effective communication in modern food regulation 124
• 4.3 Enhancing regulatory literacy for PHFFs 126
• 4.4 Limitation and strengths 128
• CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION 132
• REFERENCES 134
• APPENDICES (or SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS) 141
• A. A questionnaire used in the survey 141
• B. The price survey results of health functional foods 145
• C. Perceptions on variability of nutritional requirements and personal preference importance 148
• D. Perceptions on the characteristics of PHFFs 151
• E. Priority of health improvement goal through PHFFs 154