2024 Volume 20 Pages 89-96
An internet survey was conducted in November 2017 and March 2018 with the aim of clarifying the level of understanding regarding foods with health claims (foods for specified health uses, food with nutrient function claims, foods with function claims). The subjects were 300 general consumers and 392 medical workers (pharmacists, registered dietitians, nurses). The items of survey included the subject's attributes (gender, age), experience of using health foods, awareness and knowledge of the contents of foods with health claims. Health foods in this study were defined as “foods with health claims and all foods intended to maintain and improve health''. From results of this study, more than half of all subjects had experience using health foods. Approximately 20% of general consumers answered that they think health foods are medicines or similar to medicines. General consumers had the lowest level of awareness and knowledge of the three types of foods with health claims. There were differences in the degree of awareness and understanding among medical workers depending on the type of job. Registered dietitians tended to have higher awareness and knowledge than pharmacists and nurses. Among foods with health claims, awareness of foods for specified health uses was high in all groups. This was thought to be due to the reason that more than 20 years have passed since the system was started. On the other hand, awareness of foods with function claims, which the system was started in 2015, tended to be low in all groups. These results indicate that knowledge of foods with health claims may not be sufficient, even among medical workers. From now on, information sharing among medical workers will be necessary to ensure the appropriate and safe use of foods with health claims. Simultaneously, it is necessary to establish a new system for providing information on health foods including foods with health foods. It is also expected that general consumers to take responsibility for their own health, collect their own information, and use health food handbooks (Consumer Affairs Agency).
