Jihee Choi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in the Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences
Educational Background
Ph.D. in Hospitality Management, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
M.S. in Hospitality Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
B.S. in Food and Nutrition, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Research Interests
Food Safety in Restaurants, Food and Technologies
Dr. Jihee Choi is an Assistant Professor of Food Management Studies at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY). Her research primarily focuses on food safety in restaurants and the role of technology in foodservice. She investigates consumer perceptions of food safety when dining out and explores how food safety–related incidents (e.g., foodborne illness outbreaks) impact consumer trust and behavioral intentions. Additionally, she studies the factors that shape restaurant employees’ food safety behaviors. Recently, Dr. Choi expanded her research to examine how emerging technologies, including service robots, influence consumer perceptions of food quality and safety in on-premises dining settings. She has published in a range of international, peer-reviewed journals in the fields of food and hospitality.
Recent Publications
• Choi, J.* & Choi, S. (2025). Is Your Meal Safe When Eating Out with Diabetes: Applying a Health Belief Model Approach. Food Protection Trends. (Accepted on July 23) • Choi, J.* Choi, H., & Wong, K. (2025). Feeling drained at work? The effects of workplaceincivility among frontline restaurant employees. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. (Acceptedon July 17, 2025).
• Choi, J.* (2025). How hedonic and utilitarian values shape perceptions of quality and foodsafety in food trucks?. British Food Journal.
• Seo, S.*, Wu, X., & Choi, J. (2024). Is Her (his) Gender matched or not matched with me? Gender (dis) match effect between customers and gendered service robots. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 119, 103723.
• Choi, J.*, & Seo, S. (2024). Double-edged sword of corporate social responsibility (CSR)halo: the role of CSR efforts and crisis type and severity. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 1-25.
• Choi, J.* (2024). Does foodservice employees’ burnout influence their in-role and extra-role food safety behaviors? A structural modeling approach. Journal of Food Protection, 87(1),100200.
• Choi, J.* (2022). Investigating motivators for managing customers with food allergies inethnic restaurants. Journal of Food Protection, 85(12), 1875-1882.
• Choi, J.*, & Seo, S. (2021). Do brand rumors matter? The role of brand equity and response strategy to brand rumor. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(8), 2862-2879.
• Her, E., Seo, S., Choi, J., Pool, V., & Ilic, S.* (2019). Assessment of food safety at university food courts using surveys, observations, and microbial testing. Food Control, 103, 167-174.
• Choi, J., & Seo, S.* (2019). When a stigmatized brand is doing good: The role of complementary fit and brand equity in cause-related marketing. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(9), 3447-3464.
• Bilgihan, A.*, Seo, S., & Choi, J. (2018). Identifying restaurant satisfiers and dissatisfiers: Suggestions from online reviews. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 27(5), 601-625.
• Her, E., Seo, S., Choi, J., Pool, V., & Ilic, S.* (2017). Observed food safety behaviors among consumers and employees in university food courts. British Food Journal, 119(7), 1619-1632.
• Choi, J.*, & Scharff, R. L. (2017). Effect of a publicly accessible disclosure system on food safety inspection scores in retail and food service establishments. Journal of Food Protection, 80(7), 1188-1192.
• Choi, J., & Seo, S.* (2017). Goodwill intended for whom? Examining factors influencing
conspicuous prosocial behavior on social media. International journal of hospitality management, 60, 23-32.
• Choi, J., Norwood, H., Seo, S.*, Sirsat, S. A., & Neal, J. (2016). Evaluation of food safety related behaviors of retail and food service employees while handling fresh and fresh-cut leafy greens. Food Control, 67, 199-208.
• Choi, J., H. & Rajagopal, L.* (2013). Food allergy knowledge, attitudes, practices, and training of foodservice workers at a university foodservice operation in the Midwestern United States. Food Control, 31(2), 474-481.
Citations
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TYOK6mYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Grants Funded
Choi, J. (Principal Investigator) (2025). Robots in the kitchen: How perceived risk influences consumer acceptance of robotic chefs. Funded by Queens College Foundation 2025 Research Enhancement Award.
Choi, J. (Principal Investigator) (2024). Vulnerability of young Hispanic adults to foodborne illnesses: Need food safety education for undergraduate students at an urban Hispanic-serving institution in the United States. Funded by the Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York (PSC CUNY) 55 Grant.
Choi, S. (Principal Investigator) & Choi, J. (Co-PI) (2023). Assessing Taste Preference, Food Liking, and Food Safety Perception in People with Diabetes or Prediabetes for Developing Diabetic Healthy Eating Plan. Funded by Queens College Foundation 2023 Research Enhancement Award.
Choi, J. (Principal Investigator) (2022). Consumers’ response to robot chefs in the foodservice industry from the perspective of health and safety. Funded by the Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 53 Grant.
Choi, J. (Principal Investigator) (2020). Investigation of food handling practices for ethnic-operated restaurant employees Funded by the Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 51 Grant.
Course Taught
FNES 775, Advanced Foodservice Management (Graduate course)
FNES 378, Quantity Food Purchasing, Production, and Equipment (Undergraduate course)
FNES 275, Institutional Management (Undergraduate course)
FNES 203, Meal Management & Planning (Undergraduate course)
FNES 101, Lab, Science of Foods, (Undergraduate course)
HMNS 3913, Advanced Science Honors Research (Undergraduate course)
HMNS 2913, Science Honors Research (Undergraduate course)
