• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.615-622
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbial contamination of melons in Korea. A total of 123 samples including melon fruits, leaves, seeds, soils, and irrigation water were collected from farms and markets to detect total aerobic bacteria, coliform, Escherichia coli, and pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Samples were collected from Iksan and Nonsan farms to monitor bacterial levels on pre-market melons. The total aerobic and coliform bacteria on melon cultivation were between 0.43 and 6.65 log CFU $g^{-1}$, and 0.67 and 2.91 log CFU $g^{-1}$, respectively. Bacillus cereus, a fecal coliform, was detected in soils and melon leaves from Iksan farm at 2.95, 0.73 log CFU $g^{-1}$, respectively, and in soils from Nonsan farm at 3.16 log CFU $g^{-1}$. Market melon samples were collected to assay bacterial load on melon being sold to consumers. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria in agricultural markets, big-box retailers, and traditional markets were 4.82, 3.94, 3.99 log CFU $g^{-1}$, respectively. The numbers of coliform in melon on the markets ranged from 0.09 to 0.49 log CFU $g^{-1}$. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in any samples. The count of total aerobic bacteria on melon seeds ranged from 0.33 to 3.34 log CFU $g^{-1}$. This study found that irrigation water, soil, manure and various farm work activities including post-harvest processes were latent sources of microbial contamination. These results suggest that hygienic management and monitoring of soil, water, and agricultural material should be performed to reduce microbial contamination in melon production.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.737-750
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• 2018

Effects of acid soaking (AS) and thermal sterilization (TS) on the shape and quality characteristics of Tteokbokki rice cake (TRC) were investigated. The F-value of a sequential process (SP) of the combination of AS and TS was quantitatively determined with a reference microorganism of Bacillus cereus. F-values were evaluated according to the minimum and the maximum D-value of B. cereus and the reduction exponent (m=12). The heat penetration curves at cold point (CP) of TRC (400 g) were used to estimate the TS time at 121, 100, and $95^{\circ}C$. F-values of the SP were revised according to the adjusted m values after AS at different pH. The non-uniformity parameters (NUP) of TRC had no significant changes during AS but it dramatically increased after applying TS at a low pH by AS. The result of solubilized starch contents (SSC) demonstrated that the shape changes during SP are related to SSC. The texture characteristics and the whiteness were significantly influenced by a low pH condition (3.5) (p<0.05). Sensory analysis showed that a lower pH and a longer thermal processing time influenced negatively on the acceptability. This study showed that pH 4.0 and $95^{\circ}C$ was an optimum condition for the SP.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.395-404
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• 2023

Essential oil (EO) was extracted from the peel of Citrus hystrix DC. originating from Tinh Bien, An Giang province (Vietnam), using steam distillation. The study aimed to determine some physicochemical properties of Citrus hystrix peel EO (ChpEO), including the acid value (AV), saponification value (SV), ester value (EV), density, specific gravity, and freezing point. The chemical composition was also analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compounds like β-pinene (30.19%), D-limonene (22.15%), and sabinene (21.37%), with antioxidant and antibacterial properties, had a relatively high content. The EO was also capable of inhibiting the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 13311), and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778) specifically.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

This study investigated and compared chemical properties and biological activities of four commercial sikhae products (three flat-fish, Pleuronectes herzensteini, Sikhae: product A, B, C; one Alaska pollack, Theragra chalcogramma, Sikhae: product D) and Alaska pollack Sikhae (product E). Total acidity, amino nitrogen, salinity and pH in all products were in ranges of $0.47-1.93\;g\%$, $145.94-204.81\;mg\%$, $3.40-4.00\%$ and 4.38-5.55, respectively. All products showed antimicrobial activities against Bacillus ceraus subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, except for Salmonella typhimurium. Particularly the activities were more effective with gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria. Antioxidative $(EDA_{50};\;14.20\;mg/mL)$ and Fibrinolytic (0.95 plasmin unit/mL) activities of product E were much stronger than commercial Sikhae products (EDA50; 18.87-34.60 mg/mL and 0.69-0.85 plasmin unit/mL).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.577-583
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated fermentation characteristics of microorganism with antimicrobial activity in makgeolli made from various kinds of koji and nuruk during fermentation. The pH of nuruk groups decreased compared to the koji groups after 3 days of fermentation. Acidity and alcohol contents of nuruk groups significantly increased compared to the koji groups. The total sugar contents of the koji groups were significantly higher than those of the nuruk groups after 15 days of fermentation. Sensory scores of koji groups (DKB) were higher than those of other samples. Antimicrobial activities of nuruk group (GND and ANF) against Salmonella enterica, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus were significantly higher compared to the koji group. ST-1, isolated from (Geumjeonggu nuruk D), showed the highest antimicrobial activity and was identified as Paenibacillus polymyxa strain RCP6 based on 16S rRNA sequencing. Our result suggest that Paenibacillus polymyxa from nuruk group produces a bacteriocin-like substrate with antimicrobial activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2008

This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of raw and cooked foods served in the elementary school food service. Raw and cooked food samples were collected from 11 selected elementary schools in both June to July and September to October of 2005. Petrifilm plates were used to determine (in duplicate) total aerobic colony counts (PAC), Enterobacteriaceae (PE), coliform counts (PCC), and E. coli counts (PEC). Heavy contamination of Enterobacteriaceae (from 0.08 to 7.40 log CFU/g) and total coliform (0.50 to 6.52 log CFU/g) were observed in raw materials and cooked foods. Escherichia coli (E. coli) were detected in the sample of currant tomato (3.70 log CFU/g), sesame leaf (3.59 log CFU/g), dropwort (0.20 log CFU/g), crown daisy (3.15 log CFU/g), parsley (3.00 log CFU/g), peeled green onion (1.74 log CFU/g), frozen pork (0.65 log CFU/g), frozen beef (0.20 or 1.50 log CFU/g), chicken (1.78 log CFU/g), and young radish leaf seasoned with soybean paste (1.24 log CFU/g). Multiplex PCR system was used to determine the food-borne pathogens: Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Shigella spp., B. cereus was detected in 19 samples of raw materials and 8 samples of cooked foods. With regard to quantitative analysis, B. cereus counts exceeded 5.46, 3.48 and 1.79 log CFU/g in sesame leaf, peeled green onion and seasoned mungbean jelly, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on 2 samples of frozen beefs, and its biochemical characteristics of one beef sample was confirmed with API 20E kit (93.7%). L. monocytogenes was detected in fried rice paper dumpling, but the presumptive colonies were not detected onto the conventional plate. C. jejuni was detected in peeled & washed onion.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2007

Shelf-stability of powdered model food was determined during storage at various temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$, $35^{\circ}C$) and various moisture contents (3.5%, 6.0%, 8.0%). Moisture content, peroxide value, pH, color, microbial counting and sensory evaluation were conducted during storage. Moisture content, peroxide value, pH and color were not significantly changed during storage in all samples indicating that this powdered model food was relatively stable at given conditions. Pathogenic microorganisms, such as Bacillus cereus, Listeria spp., Clostridium perfrigens, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, were not found during storage suggesting that there was no problem in safety in this case. On the other hand, the number of artificially added Lactic acid bacteria was decreased with increasing both storage temperature and moisture content. Therefore, powdered model food was very shelf-stable and it was impossible to predict the shelf-life using above quality factors.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.686-695
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the quality characteristics of traditional and commercial soybean pastes (Doenjang) for development of traditional soybean pastes. Methods: Proximate compositions, amino acid nitrogen contents, pH, acidity, salt contents, chromaticity, viable bacteria and inorganic substance contents of nineteen traditional and three commercial Doenjang were investigated. Results: Analysis of proximate compositions indicated a significant difference between samples. In moisture content, D10 did not meet the standard of food codex. The contents of moisture, fat, protein and ash were slightly higher in traditional than commercial Doenjang. However, the carbohydrate content was 2-fold higher in commercial than traditional, and thus, the calories were also higher. The amino nitrogen content was lower in commercial than traditional Doenjang. pH, acidity and salt contents of Doenjang were pH 4.67-6.15, 1.53-3.29%, and 9.01-18.78%, respectively. pH and acidity showed no significant differences between traditional and commercial Doenjang, however, salt contents were significantly higher in traditional than commercial Doenjang. In case of chromaticity, the averages of L, a, b values were higher in traditional Doenjang. In microbiological analysis, total bacteria counts were higher in traditional than commercial Doenjang. The number of Bacillus cereus in D12 and D19 exceeded the standard of food codex. Staphylococcus aureust was undetected in all samples. The number of fungi varied widely between samples, with no detection in five traditional and all commercial Doenjang. Results of inorganic substance analysis indicated that contents of inorganic substances in Doenjang were in order of Na, K, Mg and Ca. Overall, Na content was higher in traditional Doenjang. Contents of inorganic substances showed wide variations in traditional Doenjang. Conclusion: For the development of traditional Doenjang, quality standardization and ensuring safety are considered necessary.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.472-479
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• 2002

The antimicrobial effects of metabolites from isolated strains from feces of Korean newborn baby and from Dongchimi against six food-borne microorganisms, and characteristics of the metabolites were investigated.. The metabolites from isolated strains adjusted pH to 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 showed strong growth inhibition against S. Typhimurium, and S. Enteritidis. The metabolites has kept its inhibition activities to the pathogens after catalase, trypsin or pepsin treatment. In addition, antimicrobial activity of metabolites was not decreased by heat treatment at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. D2 and F35-2 strains were confirmed homofermentative and F20-3 was heterofermentative bacteria identified by final organic acid and gas production. The amount of lactic acid produced by D2 and F35-2 strains after 24 h of incubation was 1.84 and 1.85% respectively, but F20-3 strain produced acetic acid (0.22%) and lactic acid (0.91%).

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of gamma irradiation on the microbial populations of dried raw materials (9 products) and Saengsik powder. The samples were gammairradiated at doses of 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy and the microbiological populations were evaluated. The total numbers of bacteria and Bacillus cereus in non-irradiated dried-raw materials for Saengsik powder was 1.3~3.4 and $1.7{\sim}2.4log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$. However, gamma irradiation reduced the microbiological populations in all samples, and Saengsik powder were sterilized at more than 6 kGy. Moreover, Clostridium perfringens were not observed in all samples within detection limit (<$1log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$). Therefore, the results of this study suggest that gamma irradiation at 6 kGy is sufficient to sterilize Saengsik powder, and thus, irradiated Saengsik powder at 6 kGy fulfills the microbiological requirements for sterilized food.