2021 Volume 79 Issue 5 Pages 293-301
Objective: This study was conducted to clarify the policies governing the registration of the local produce for local consumption, the dietary environmental improvements promoted by the local government authorities, and the state of the meals and dietary information offered in university cafeterias in Kyoto Prefecture.
Methods: This self-administered questionnaire study was conducted in 2017 among the cafeteria operators of 72 cafeterias in Kyoto Prefecture. We stratified these companies into those operated by University Co-op (Co-op) and general restaurant businesses and divided the subjects into two groups, those with or without a registered improvement plan. The questionnaire included 12 items on the registration status, the form and details of the meals offered, and the diet and health information offered in the cafeterias.
Results: We obtained responses from 63 cafeterias (response rate, 87.5%). The Co-op and general restaurant showed 20% and 34.5% registration, respectively. Compared with the non-registered subgroup, significantly high percentage of registered general restaurants offered vegetable dishes, fish dishes, set meals and choices of rice bowl size. There was no significant difference in the rate of dietary information between the registered and non-registered subgroups.
Conclusions: As for the general restaurants, we found a probable correlation between their registration status and healthy meals. In the future, governments, universities, and cafeteria operators should promote liaison in order to improve the dietary environment and promote the development of new formats for offering dietary information.
