• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.185-193
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop standards for the salinity and sodium content in representative Korean foods high in sodium. Methods: A total of 600 foods from four seasonings (soy sauce, soybean paste, red pepper paste, and ssamjang) and 16 representative Korean foods high in sodium were collected from 10 households, 10 industry foodservice establishments, and 10 Korean restaurants in 10 cities nationwide and analyzed for their salinity and sodium content. Based on the findings, the standards with a 20% ~ 30% reduced sodium content and salinity from the current level were presented. Results: The suggested standards of salinity (and sodium content per 100 g) were less than 12% (4,500 mg) for soy sauce, 9% (3,500 mg) for soybean paste, 5% (2,000 mg) for red pepper paste, and 6% (2,500 mg) for ssamjang. The reduced standards of salinity for soups were suggested to less than 0.5% for clear soup and 0.7% for soybean paste soup, while for broths, it was 0.6% for clear broth and 0.7% for other broths. The standards of salinity for stews were suggested to less than 0.8% for soybean paste stew, 0.6% for other stews, 0.9% for steamed and stir-fried fish dishes, 1.0% for braised dishes, 4.0% for stir-fried dried fishes, 1.3% for other braised dishes including vegetables, and 1.5% for pickled vegetables and kimchi. Conclusion: Standards for the sodium content and salinity were suggested to reduce the sodium level in fermented soybean sauces and representative Korean high sodium dishes by 20% from the current levels. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to adjust the standards properly to reduce the sodium content and salinity further by considering the future status of sodium intake.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.475-487
• /
• 2019

Purpose: With the increase of going out to eat, reducing the sodium in restaurant foods has a crucial impact on reducing sodium intake. This study aimed to assess the current status and perceptions of restaurant staffs related to reducing sodium use in restaurants. Methods: Restaurant managers and chefs (n = 312) in Seongnam area completed a questionnaire on the current status related to sodium use, the barriers to practice for reducing sodium use, support needs, and the practicability of methods for reducing sodium use in restaurants. Results: The percentage of restaurants in the preaction stage (including the precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages) for reducing sodium use was 79.7%. Logistic regression analysis showed that measuring salinity while cooking was associated with measuring seasoning (OR, 4.761; 95% CI, 2.325 ~ 9.751), action/maintenance stages of behavior change (OR, 2.829; 95% CI, 1.449 ~ 5.525) and providing salinity information of restaurant foods (OR, 6.314; 95% CI, 2.964 ~ 13.45). Maintaining taste and hindering the cooking process were the main barriers to reduce sodium use. The total practicability of actions for reducing sodium was higher in staffs who worked in restaurants that measured seasoning and salinity while cooking (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The hardest item to practice was 'purchase foods after comparing sodium content in the nutrition labeling'. 'Avoid serving salt-fermented foods as side dishes', 'serve small portions of kimchi and less salty kimchi', and 'put up promotional materials for reducing sodium intake' were selected as easy items to perform. The majority (82%) was willing to reduce sodium in restaurant foods under the support of local government and they desired the promotion of participating restaurants and education on cooking skills to reduce sodium. Conclusion: Measuring seasoning and salinity while cooking is a meaningful practice that is associated with stages of behavior change and the practicability of actions for reducing sodium. It is necessary to provide support and education with a gradual approach to staffs for reducing sodium in restaurant foods.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.341-346
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate alcohol content of commercial Korean fermented sources and to analyze the quality parameters such as titratable acidity, pH, salinity, reducing sugar, alcohol and yeast cell count. Eighty-seven samples of Doenjang, 68 samples of Kanjang and 57 samples of Kochujang were collected and divided into conventional and improved products depending on manufacturing method. As a result, the titratable acidities of conventional Doenjang, Kanjang and Kochujang were 1.72, 1.23 and 1.25%, and those of the improved products were 1.87, 1.80, and 1.00%, respectively. The pH values of conventional Doenjang and Kochujang were lower than those of the corresponding improved products and the pH of conventional Kanjang was higher than improved products. The salinities of the conventional products were higher than the improved products, and an the reducing sugar and alcohol content of the conventional products were lower than the improved products. The detection rate of alcohol (above 1%) in conventional Doenjang, Kanjang, and Kochujang were 6, 10 and 39%, respectively while the corresponding improved products showed much higher rates of 100, 76 and 100%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the yeast cell count between the alcohol-containing products and the alcohol-free products. Accordingly, further study is necessary to develop a manufacturing method using non-degradable sugar and salt control to reduce the production of alcohol in Korean source.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.757-762
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to develop a processing method for dry-curing beef ham with Korean traditional sauces and to investigate the quality properties of the dry-cured beef hams. Semitendinosus muscle from Hanwoo was spread with sundried salt (C), sun-dried salt mixed with red pepper paste (T1), and sun-dried salt mixed with soybean paste (T2), and inserted into washed Hanwoo large intestine. It was then dried and fermented for 75 d. Moisture contents of the hams were 46-48%, without any significant differences. T1 showed the lowest pH among the three dry-cured hams, while water holding capacity (WHC) of T2 was found the lowest (p<0.05). In mechanical color determination, C showed higher CIE $a^*$ and CIE $b^*$ than T1 and T2 (p<0.05), however CIE $L^*$ did not show any significant difference. In texture, T1 demonstrated significantly lower springiness than C (p<0.05). The sensory properties of all dry-cured hams did not show any significant difference, but T1 indicated a higher taste, saltiness and overall acceptability than others, whereas C gathered the highest score in color and flavor. In conclusion, the dry-curing by combination of sun-dried salt mixed with red pepper sauce (T1) showed higher quality properties of the Hanwoo dry-cured ham.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.749-755
• /
• 2014

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have been widely used in the food industry as viscofying, stabilizing, and emulsifying agents as well as in the pharmaceutical industry for their immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 458 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from several kinds of soybean pastes were screened for the production of homo-EPS (HoPS). LAB isolates were primarily screened using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and further screened polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting genes involved in HoPS production. Six LAB isolates producing high amounts of HoPS were identified by TLC. Among these isolates, glucansucrase gene was amplified in two strains (JSA57, JSB22), whereas the fructansucrase gene was detected in three strains (JSA57, JSB22, JSB66). After isolating the strains, their morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequences were determined. Six species were identified as L. alimentarius HSB15, L. plantarum JSA22, L. pentosus JSA57, L. brevis JSB22, L. alimentarius JSB66, and L. parabrevis JSB89. To evaluate the potential probiotic properties of these LAB, their survival rates against a simulated intestinal environment were determined. After 2 hr of incubation in artificial gastric juice, survival rates of JSA57, JSB90, JSB22, and JSB66 were all greater than 50%. After 2 hr of incubation in bile juice, viable cell count of JSB22 was similar with initial vial cell counts. Growth of the six LAB was screened in arabino-oligosaccharide (AOS)-containing MRS broth. Results showed that growth of the isolates selectively increased after culture in AOS-containing media. Strain JSB22 (6 hr), JSB66 (6 hr), HSB15 (20 hr), and JSA22 (29 hr) showed maximum growth rate. Especially, JSB22 showed the highest growth rate. These results suggest that EPS-producing LAB isolated from Deonjang could be applied as synbiotics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.8
• /
• pp.1236-1241
• /
• 2013

This study was conduct in order to provide information on formula optimization, salinity, and water content for commercialization of traditional buckwheat Soksungjang. To do this, we determined quality characteristics such as total microbial flora counts, amino-type nitrogen content, total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and performed a sensory evaluation. The moisture contents showed a gradual decrease during the fermentation period. There was no significant difference in all samples. During 70 days of fermentation, the pH showed a similar trend starting at a pH of 6, and dropping sharply to 5.5, except Experiment C (15% buckwheat powder in the meju, 10% NaCl, and 130% water in the total Soksungjang). On the other hand, total acidity increased regularly, however, its ranges were various points in all samples. The microbial population was reduced by 1~3 log cycle in all samples during the fermentation period. The content of amino-type nitrogen showed a gradual increase during fermentation, ranging from 160 to 213 mg% after 70 days. No remarkable difference in total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity was observed in all samples. In sensory evaluation, Soksungjang with 30% (control) and 15% (Experiment C) buckwheat showed a significantly higher overall score.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.656-660
• /
• 2008

Fermented soybean foods are an important component of the Korean diet. Eoyukjang is a type of traditional fermented soybean source. Microbial analysis of eoyukjang was conducted during the fermentation period in this study. Microorganisms isolated from eoyukjang were identified by biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. 17 different microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, and fungi were detected in eoyukjang during the fermentation period. Even though Aspergillus participated in the early stage of fermentation of eoyukjang, Bacillus species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the major microzymes in eoyukjang throughout the maturation period. Eoyukjang is generally consumed after the boiling of the final sample. Therefore, the final sample of eoyukjang was boiled and analyzed. Our results showed that no vegetative microorganisms survived under the boiling conditions for eoyukjang. Fermented soybean products in the domestic market were also assessed for comparison with the results from eoyukjang. The total cell number of kanjang (soy sauce) samples was between 0 to 42 CFU/mL. The isolated microorganisms were identified as Bacillus species. All Bacillus isolates were not found to harbor the three enterotoxin-producing and emetic toxin-producing genes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.379-384
• /
• 2010

We isolated microorganisms presenting high enzymatic activities for amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase or fibrinolysis from Korean traditional soybean sauce and paste. Then, the physiological properties and 16S rRNA sequences of isolated microorganisms were analyzed. All of the isolated 13 strains possessing high extra cellular enzyme activities have higher amylase and cellulase activities than Bacillus subtilis KACC 10114. All the selected strains have protease activities except for D2-14. Except D8-8 and K4-1, other strains have lipase activity. D2-7, D8-8 and K4-1 strains have higher fibrinolytic activities than others, while D8-2 strain has no activity. Most of the selected strains showed antibacterial activity even in gram positive and gram negative bacteria and yeast. Gene sequence analysis of 16S rRNA from isolated strains revealed that all the selected strains were member of Bacillus species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2012

We studied the effect of fermented Rhus verniciflua stem bark (FRVSB) extract (used in herbal med-icine by Koreans) on the microbial growth and enzyme activity of 12 soybean-fermenting microorganisms, including Bacillus spp., lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and other harmful bacteria. The ethanol and methanol extracts of FRVSB inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, and in the disk diffusion assay, their inhibition zone diameters were 11.06-12.23, 12.32-18.38, 11.47-11.84, and 13.59-14.21 mm, respectively. The water extract did not show any inhibitory effect. In fact, the water extract addition enhanced the growth of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis by 1.3-4.5 fold and that of B. cereus by 1.2-1.4 fold. However, the water extract did not affect the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus mesenteroides, Saccharomyces cer-evisiae, and Escherichia coli. The addition of water extract increased the amylase and protease activity of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.536-539
• /
• 2002

This study was investigated for the preparation method of meju by three step fermentation. The steamed soybeans were fermented with nisin-producing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IFO12007 to inhibit the growth of odor-producing Bacilli and promote of normal fermentation of meju. The lactie-fermented soybeans were further fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis. The produced meju by this method showed 54%moisture content and pH 7.0, respectively. The three step fermented meju was soaked in 20% (w/v) brine at $25^{\circ}C$ for 90days. After 30 days, the contents of total free amino acids revealed 4,015 mg% which were higher $3{\sim}5$ times than controls. Among the detected free amino acids, the contents of glutamic acid and leucine showed 925 mg% and 380mg%, respectively. Therefore, the new method of producing meju would be an excellent alternative to improve the quality of soybean fermented food, such as doenjang and kanjang.