• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to investigate hand hygiene practices among food-service businesses employees based on the awareness of hand-washing and load of indicator bacteria on their hands. It focused on the comparison of full-time and part-time workers in food-service workplaces. Methods: A direct-interview questionnaire survey and microbiological analysis were carried out with sixty workers each. Samples for microbiological analysis were collected through a modified glove-juice method from the hands of the food-service workers and were analyzed for aerobic plate count, total coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Microbiological analysis was done according to the Food Code of Korea. Results: Significant differences (p<0.01) were found in the survey between the full-time and part-time workers in hand-washing frequency, use of hand-washing agents, and hand-drying methods. More full-time workers responded to washing their hands after preparing food, after visiting outside, after handling raw materials, and before putting on gloves/when changing gloves than did part-time workers (p<0.05). No remarkable difference was found in bacterial load on the hands except in the aerobic plate count between the two groups. The detection of E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food-service workers in both groups revealed poor hand hygiene practices. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is a need for training programs in order to improve hand hygiene practices and strict hand hygiene compliance by food-service workers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.301-306
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• 1998

Four low fat ground beef groups containing 10% fat plus 0, 5, 10 and 20% additional cooked lod rice and a control ground beef containing 30% fat were prepared and the analysis for microbiological and oxidative stability were conducted. During 6 days of storage at 4$^{\circ}C$ microbial analysis including total plate count and coliform groups were performed and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) absorbances were measured. The growth rate of total aerobic bacteria and coliform groups tended to increase with the increase in fat content and the amount of added cooked lod rice. Development of oxidative rancidity were not significantly different between 10 and 30% fat ground beef but among the 10% ground beef the rancidity development significantly(p<05) decreased with the in-crease in the amount of added cooked old rice. Low fat ground beef groups were not stable over 3 days during storage at 4$^{\circ}C$.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-111
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the qualities of cook/chilled soy sauce-glazed soybean curd with various packaging conditions as a trial to develop health-oriented convenience foods. The effects of three packaging methods, linear low density-polyethylene (LLD-PE), top sealing, and modified atmosphere packaging(MAP) on the shelf-life of HACCP-based cook/chilled soy sauce-glazed soybean curd were evaluated during 20 days of chilled storage in terms of time-temperature, microbiological (total aerobic plate count, psychrotrophic plate count, coliform, and fecal coliform count), chemical(pH and peroxide value(POV)), and sensory evaluation. The results of microbiological and chemical analyses were within the limits of the microbial and chemical standards for all phases after cooking. No significant differences were detected in microbial counts of the samples for all three packaging methods. However, sensory evaluation indicated that the top sealing and MAP methods showed a longer shelf-life than LLD-PE packaging. Recommended shelf-life of the product was 12 days for LLD-PE packaging, and 16 days for both top sealing and MAP. In conclusion, MAP was considered as the most effective packaging method for assuring microbial and sensory quality of this cook/chilled product.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2001

Distribution of pathogenic vibrios in the seawater of live fish tank and effect of environmental factors on their existence were investigated by collecting samples from fish markets and restaurants in 6 different cities. Pathogenic vibrios and coliforms were determined by using the most probable number (MPN) procedure, and aerobic plate count was enumerated by the standard pour plate method. No Vibrio chulerae O1 was detected in all the samples tested. Detection rates of V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in all the smaples tested were 7.7%, 69.2% and 23.1%, respectively. Water temperature and trubidity of the seawater measured were higher in the pathogenic vibrios positive samples than in those negative samples. However, higher salinity and pH were shown in the pathogenic vibrios negative samples than in positive samples. The aerobic plate counts and MPN or total and focal coliforms in the seawater were higher in the presence of pathogenic vibrios than in the absence of pathogenic vibrios. In this study, the presence of pathogenic vibrios in the seawater tested was closely related with other physiochemical parameters and populations of coliforms, indicators far food safety.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.1 s.88
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• pp.77-88
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• 2006

This study were conducted to investigate the microbial contamination level in 5 tomato farms in Western Gyeongnam. A total of 130 samples was examined for sanitary indicator bacteria, such as aerobic plate count (APC), coliforms, and Escherchia coli, and pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. APC and coliform count ranged $0\~6.62\;and\;0\~4.52 log_{10}\;CFU/(ml,\;g,\;100\;cm^2,\;hand)$, respectively, and $32.5\%$ were contaminated with E. coli. Especially, most of the samples from employees are high as above $4.0\;log_{10}\;CFU/(ml,\;g,\;100\;cm^2,\;hand)$ in APC. S. aureus, detected at $10.7\%$, was found in employees' hands, irrigation water, and hydroponic solution. whereas E. coli $O157:H7$, Salmonella spp, and L. monocytogenes were not detected. These results will provide fundamental microbiological information for introduction of good agricultural practice (GAP)system in tomato farms.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2019

In this study, microbial contamivation semisulcospira libertine and effect of sedimentation treatment of major bacterial and fungal pathogens were investigated. The total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast and mold present in raw and water-dipped Semisulcospira libertine were enumerated using the standard plate count methods on using the standard plate method on potato dextrose agar (PDA), 3M Petrifilm for coliforms / E. coli, 3M Petrifilm for S. aureus, and plate count agar (PCA), respectively. In analysis of microbial contamination of raw Semisulcospira libertine, the total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and yeast and mold were monitored as 6.40, 2.70, and $6.79{\log}_{10}CFU/g$, respectively. Both E. coli and S. aureus were not detected (detection limit: 10 CFU/g). However, Semisulcospira libertine dipped in ground water for 3 hours had higher contamination levels of all natural indigenous microorganisms than raw Semisulcospira libertine. Especially, E. coli was detected as $2.46{\log}_{10}CFU/g$ in the ground water-dipped Semisulcospira libertine. The total aerobic bacteria in the ground water-dipped Semisulcospira libertine was not significantly reduced (p>0.05) compared to that in the raw Semisulcospira libertine. Moreover, coliforms were significantly increased (p>0.05) in all water-dipped Semisulcospira libertine. Only fungi were slightly reduced (less than 0.2 log) (p>0.05) in the tap water-dipped Semisulcospira libertine by comparison with the raw Semisulcospira libertine. The results of this study suggest that the use of chemical sterilizing agents and other physical methods in the washing stage will be necessary for the microbial reduction in raw Semisulcospira libertine because the use of sediment removal treatment by ground or tap water did not affect the microbiological safety of the raw Semisulcospira libertine.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.243-253
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to set new guidelines for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence hygiene monitoring of distribution trays at children's foodservices. Five dietitians visited 223 foodservices (95 institutional, 128 small) to examine whether they adhered to the norms of 'Keeping distribution tray sanitary by washing/sanitizing' and 'Performing food distribution in a clean and appropriate way'. In this visit, dietitians swabbed 100 ㎠ area of the distribution trays twice, once for obtaining ATP measurements and the second time for Aerobic Plate Counts (APC) using 3M Petrifilm Plates. Chi-square test and ANOVA were applied using SPSS 23.0 software. SPSS 23.0 was used to conduct graphical and statistical analysis of the raw data of ATP measurements, which were further transformed by a Box-Cox transformation. The mean of APC from all the subjects inspected was 3.8×10²±2,102.0 CFU/100 ㎠. A total of 208 (93.3%) trays were observed within the acceptable limits of APC (Pass<5.0×10² CFU/100 ㎠). APCs taken at institutional foodservices showed significantly lower levels (1.4×10²±600.0 CFU/100 ㎠, P<0.01) compared to the small foodservices (5.5×10²±2,718.7 CFU/100 ㎠). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in ATP measurements and in the performance rate of 2 checklist items. As against the 93.3% APC adequacy from the total subjected inspection, total ATP adequacy (Pass≤300 RLU/100 ㎠) was only 71.7%. Therefore, more practical guidelines should be prepared for the assessment of the hygiene of distribution trays. In the graphical and statistical analysis, levels below 250 RLU/100 ㎠ was considered 'Pass', while equal to or greater than 350 RLU/100 ㎠ was considered 'Fail' for distribution trays.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.174-176
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• 2003

A survey was conducted to investigate the sanitary condition of school kitchens in one region of Korea. A self-administered questionnaire recommended by the Korea Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development (MOEHRD) was offered to a random sample of dieticians of twenty-five elementary schools for food, sanitation and safety inspection of their kitchens. Air temperature, relative humidity, and airborne microbes in the kitchens were monitored during food preparation, processing and service. The inspection results showed their sanitary condition met the level B of the recommendation of the Korea MOEHRD. The range of air temperature of the kitchens was 21.4∼22.4$^{\circ}C$, and the range of relative humidity was 62.4∼69.6%. The microbiological evaluation of kitchen samples indicated aerobic plate count levels from 22.5 to 26.5 CFU/15 min. These results indicate that the levels of sanitary condition of kitchens in the schools were not satisfactory for safe foodservice although the inspection showed good results. This study suggests that the school kitchens should be monitored and strict inspection is necessary.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.155-166
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• 1980

Studies have teen undertaken to investigate the degree of microbial contamination in the subsidiary materials which have been known as an important source of microorganisms associated with spoilage of fish sausage and fish paste products. Twenty hinds of food ingredients including starch, spices and condiments, 59 samples in total collected from commercial fish sausage processing plants and supermarket in the period of July to October 1979, were examined for standard plate count, coliform and fecal coliform, mold and yeast, thermoduric microorganisms, aerobic sporeformers (mesophilic and thermophilic), anaerobic sporeformers (mesophilic and thermophilic) and sulfide spoilage anaerobes. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Among the food ingredients examined, corn starch, black pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, beef extract and frank marked high bacterial contamination with general and sporeforming microorganisms. And bacterial content of marked samples were generally higher than that of the samples from plants. 2. The high standard plate count caused by high content of these bacteria like thermoduric, mesophilic or thermophilic sporeforming aerobes. 3. Bacterial content of food ingredients such as black pepper and beef extract being used in plants, and black pepper, hot pepper, onion and garlic from the market were exceeded the bacterial standards being enforced in Japan and U. S. A. 4. Average standard plate count was in the range of 10$^4$to 10$^{5}$ /g for black pepper, wheat flour, onion and garlic collected from plants, and 10$^{5}$ to 10$^{7}$ /g for black pepper, hot pepper, onion and garlic from market. No plate count was observed in pepper essence and coloring material. 5. Coliform organism was detected in starch, black pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, ginger and gluten that showed high standard plate but no fecal coliform in the samples except black pepper and hot pepper. 6. Average mold and yeast count was 140 to 460/g for corn starch, wheat flour and black pepper from plants, and 10$^3$/g for black pepper and hot pepper from market. No count was observed in the other ingredients. 7. Sulfide spoilage sporeforming anaerobes boiled for 5 min. at 10$0^{\circ}C$ and incubated at 55$^{\circ}C$ was not detected in all the samples examined.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2007

This study was designed to estimate self-life of Kimbab and sandwiches marketed in convenience store. While the 12 different type of Kimbab (n=6) and sandwiches (n=6) were kept at $10^{\circ}C$ for 72 hours, quality changes including volatile basic nitrogen, aerobic plate count, pathogens detection and sensorial property was monitored, and effective quality indicators were selected. Volatile basic nitrogen, indicator for protein deterioration was slightly increased during storage periods in all samples. E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were not detected from any of samples. Change of aerobic plate count of Kimbab and sandwiches were increased moderately but increased dramatically after 48 hours of storage. Overall acceptability were maintained over 5, purchasing power limit, for 40 hours in 4 general Kimbab, 48 hours in 2 samgak Kimbab and 42 hours in 2 sandwiches. Shelf-life of each item was calculated from regression equation between reference limit from effective quality indicators, aerobic plate count and sensory property, and storage period. Estimated shelf-lives of general Kimbab were $15{\sim}33$ hours, samgak Kimbab were 32 hours and sandwiches were $27{\sim}30$ hours at $10^{\circ}C$ refrigerated condition.