대구 지역 초등학생의 식품알레르기 실태 및 학부모의 학교급식 알레르기 유발식품 표시제에 대한 인식도와 교육요구도 분석

Abstract

This study examined the status of food allergy among elementary school students and parental perception and the educational need for a food allergen labeling system of school foodservice in Daegu. Twenty-two percent of the respondents were classified as the allergy group (elementary school children with food allergy), and the diagnosis of food allergy was 47.4% among the allergy group. Allergenic foods were eggs 16.1%, pork 9.2%, milk and shrimp 8.1%, respectively, mackerel 6.9%, peach 5.7%, crab, walnut, and shellfish 3.5%, respectively, peanut and tomato 2.3%, respectively, and soybean, sulfites, beef, and squid 1.1%, respectively. The most common symptoms of food allergy were itching, redness, and urticaria associated with skin. Only 15.9% of the respondents participated in the education of food allergy and the food allergen labeling system in the past one year, and the main education channel was the school newsletter or the school web site. The respondents expressed a high educational need for the food allergy and food allergen labeling system. The most preferred method of education for parents was the school newsletter or the school web site, and for students, the school class. The expected effect of education was ‘to improve the safety of the school meal’ followed by ‘to practice first aid more quickly in an emergency’, and then ‘to improve health’. However, the level of check of a food allergen labeling system in school foodservice was relatively low. Based on the results, food allergy education for parents and elementary students should be provided by the preferred methods.