• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2012

A total of 187 samples of leafy vegetables and fruits were acquired at traditional markets and department stores in Seoul, Korea. Samples were tested for microorganism distributions and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 2.5 and 9.4 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from the dropwort. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of the mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between 1.0 and 7.8 log CFU/g were found in 90.9% of the samples. Microbiological counts for fruits were very low. $Escherichia$ $coli$ was isolated in 24 (12.8%) samples. $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ and $Clostridium$ $perfringens$ contamination were found in 15 (8.0%) and 20 (10.7%) samples. $Salmonella$ species and $Listeria$ $monocytogenes$ were detected in 2.7 and 0.5% of samples, respectively. Among the total 187 samples, 8 samples were contaminated by more than two pathogens. $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 was not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels determined in the present study may be used as the primary data to execute microbial risk assessment of fresh vegetables and fruits.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 1999

In this studies, the ability of chlorine and lactic acid to reduce bacterial population of the pathogenic microorganisms were examined on artificially inoculated chicken skin. About 10$^{5}$ cells of staphylococcus aureus, salmonella enteritidis, listeria monocytogenes and escherichia coli O157:H7 were inoculated in chicken skin. The contaminated samples were washed for 1 min with sodium hypochlorite solutions that contained 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50mg/$\ell$ available chlorine and counted number of the agents. Viable population were no significantly difference (p$\geq$0.05) between concentration of chlorine and strains of the pathogens. In the samples inoculated with pathogens were washed in 20mg/$\ell$ chlorine and then stored at $^5{\circ}C$ for up to 10 days, the initial counts of psychrotrophs and aerobic plate counts were 4.02 to 4.36 log cfu/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and increased slightly in course of time. But 10 days after, the pathogens were a little reduced from 3.66~4.91 log cfu/$\textrm{cm}^2$ to 2.54~4.66 log cfu/$\textrm{cm}^2$. In the case of washed skin with solution of 20mg/$\ell$ chlorine and 0.5% lactic acid then store at $^5{\circ}C$ for up to 10 days, population of psychrotrophs and aerobic plate counts on chicken skin were markedly reduced immediately after treatment, but the numbers of contaminants were slightly increased after 6 and 8 days. Specifically, numbers of St aureus, S enteritidis, L monocytogenes and E coli O157:H7 were reduced to 0.5, 0.4, 0.3 and 1.15 log cfu/$\textrm{cm}^2$ after 10 days of storage, respectively, on aerobic plate counts.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.683-687
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• 2004

Raw beefs used fer Jangzorim production were evaluated fur contamination of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms related to spoilage and food safety. Eleven groups of mesophilic, psychrotrophic, and anaerobic microorganisms, and total coliforms were selected to evaluate degree of food contamination. Nine strains including Bacillus cereus, Clostridium botulinum, C. perfringens, and Listeria monocytogenes were selected to evaluate incidences of pathogenic bacteria. Raw beefs harbored large populations of microorganisms, which decreased greatly after heat treatment. Psychrotrophic microorganisms were found to be more abundant than other microorganisms. B. cereus, C. perfringens, and L. monocytogenes were isolated from raw beefs, whereas C. botulinum, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia enterocolitica were not isolated. Isoiates from Cereus selective agar, clostridium Perfringens agar, and Oxford agar were in 99.8, 99.9 and 98.6% agreements with B. cereus, C. perfringens, and L. monocytogenes at species level, respectively. B. cereus produced enterotoxin with CRET-RPLA method, whereas C. perfringens did not produce enterotoxin with PET-RPLA method.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.590-596
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• 2010

Meat and meat products are a potential source of food-borne pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Bacillus cereus. A sensitive and specific PCR assay for the detection of these pathogens in meat and meat products was developed in this study, as part of a broader effort to reduce the potential health hazards posed by these pathogens. Initially, PCR conditions were standardized with purified DNA. Under standard conditions, the detection level for PCR was as low as 10 pg of purified bacterial DNA. After overnight growth of bacteria in a broth medium, as few as $10^2$ CFU of bacteria were detected by PCR assay. The primers employed in the PCR assay were found to be highly specific for individual organisms, and evidenced no cross-reactivity with heterologous organisms. Additionally, the multiplex PCR assays also amplified some target genes from the four pathogens, and multiplex amplification was obtained from as little as 10 pg of DNA, thus illustrating the excellent specificity and high sensitivity of the assay. In conclusion, this PCR-based technique provides a sensitive and specific method for the detection of S. aureus, Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, and B. cereus in meat and meat products.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.639-642
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• 2006

The root extract of Scilla scilloides (which has been used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea) was evaluated with regard to antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities. The roots of S. scilloides were minced and extracted with 95% ethanol (root:ethanol=25:75, w/v). The inhibitory effects of S. scilloides root extract on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 35556, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 12021, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Candida parapsilosis KCCM 35428 were tested. The results indicate that the antimicrobial effects of both 0.1 and 1.0% extract of S. scilloides were greater against the growth of S. aureus ATCC 35556 and C. parapsilosis KCCM 35428 than the growth of S. enteritidis ATCC 12021 and E. coli O157:H7. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by measurement of the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity in vitro. It appears that both 0.1 and 1.0% concentrations of extract have inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase relative to the control. Finally, the anti-oxidative effect of 1.0 and 10% extract solutions were measured according to the thiocyanate method and were compared with 1.0% BHT. The results indicate that the anti-oxidative effect of 10% S. scilloides root extract (anti-oxidative index (AOI); $72.3{\pm}4.2$) is not significantly different from that of 1.0% BHA (AOI; $76.8{\pm}3.5$) (p<0.05). However, it appears that the anti-oxidative effect of S. scilloides root extract is at least three-fold greater than that of BHA when accounting for the amount of dissolved solids in each.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.248-259
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Contaminated water was a major source of food-borne pathogens in various recent fresh produce-related outbreaks. This study was conducted to investigate the microbial contamination level and correlations between the level of sanitary indicator bacteria and the detection ratio of pathogens in agricultural water by logistic regression analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Agricultural water was collected from 457 sites including surface water (n=300 sites) and groundwater (n=157 sites) in South Korea from 2018 to 2020. Sanitary indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli) and food-borne pathogens (pathogenic E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes) were analyzed. In surface water, the coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli were 3.27±0.89 log CFU/100 mL, 1.90±1.19 log CFU/100 mL, and 1.39±1.26 log CFU/100 mL, respectively. For groundwater, three kinds of sanitary indicators ranged in the level from 0.09 - 0.57 log CFU/100 mL. Pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes were detected from 3%-site, 1.5%- site, and 0.6%-site water samples, respectively. According to the results of correlations between the level of sanitary indicator bacteria and the detection ratio of pathogens by logistic regression analysis, the probability of pathogen detection increased individually by 1.45 and 1.34 times as each total coliform and E. coli concentration increased by 1 log CFU/100mL. The accuracy of the model was 70.4%, and sensitivity and specificity were 81.5% and 51.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The results indicate the need to manage the microbial risk of agricultural water to enhance the safety of fresh produce. In addition, logistic regression analysis is useful to analyze the correlation between the level of sanitary indicator bacteria and the detection ratio of pathogens in agricultural water.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2013

This study assessed hazards at the harvest stage of strawberry farms which may cause risk to humans. A total of 216 samples were collected from 6 strawberry farms (soil culture farms: A, B, C; nutriculture farms: D, E, F) located in Western Gyeongnam. The collected samples were subjected for sanitary indicator bacteria (aerobic plate count, coliforms and Escherichia coli), major foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), and fungi. The levels of APC and coliform in the soil culture farms were 1.0-6.9 and 0.4-4.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$), respectively. The samples obtained from the nutriculture farms were contaminated with the levels of 0.8-4.9, and 0.2-2.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) of APC and coliform. However, E. coli was not detected in any samples. In major foodborne pathogens, S. aureus was detected at the level of ${\leq}$3.3 log CFU/hand in workers' hand samples and B. cereus was detected at the levels of 0.4-4.1 log CFU/g (hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil, plants and workers' hygiene. L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Fungi were detected at the levels of 1.0-5.2 and 0.2-4.4 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil culture and nutriculture farms, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.578-586
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the effects of alkaline electrolyzed water (AIEW), acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW), 1% citric acid, and 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite, either alone or in combination with citric acid, in reducing the populations of spoilage bacteria and foodborne pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7) on lettuce at various exposure times (3, 5, and 10 min) with different dipping temperatures (1, 20, 40, and $50^{\circ}C$). In addition, the inhibitory effect of alkaline electrolyzed water combined with citric acid on the browning reaction during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 15 days was investigated. Compared to the untreated control, electrolyzed water more effectively reduced the number of total bacteria, mold, and yeast than 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite under the same treatment conditions. All treatments exposed for 5 min significantly reduced the numbers of total bacteria, yeast, and mold on head lettuce. The inactivation effect of each treatment on head lettuce was enhanced as the dipping temperature increased from 1 to $50^{\circ}C$, but there was no significantly difference at temperatures greater than $40^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05). The total counts of yeast and mold in head lettuce were completely eliminated when a combination of 1% citric acid and AlEW treatment was used at temperatures greater than $40^{\circ}C$. However, decreased reduction in L. monocytogenes (2.81 log CFU/g), and E. coli O157:H7 (2.93 log CFU/g) on head lettuce was observed under these treatment conditions. In addition, enhanced anti-browning effect was observed when the samples were subjected to both 1% citric acid and AlEW treatment at temperatures greater than $40^{\circ}C$ compared to when single treatments alone were used. Thus, this combined treatment might be considered a potentially beneficial sanitizing method for improving the quality and safety of head lettuce.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.262-267
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• 2014

To analyze the presence of microbes in organic farm produce, green chillies, lettuce, tomatoes, apples, pears, and rice were collected at 47 production sites with organic and conventional produce. Total average bacterial counts of 4.07 log CFU/g in organic green chillies, 3.71 log CFU/g in conventional green chillies, and 6.76- 6.90 log CFU/g in the both lettuce were detected. Mean bacterial counts of 4.48 log CFU/g and 2.84 log CFU/g were detected in organic and conventional pear produce, respectively. Differences in bacterial counts in tomatoes, apples, and rice in organic and conventional produce were less pronounced. Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in any produce sample. However, Bacillus cereus was detected with average counts of 1.04 log CFU/g in 11/47 (23%) conventional produce samples and 1.97 log CFU/g in 6/47 (13%) organic produce samples. Therefore, organic and conventional produce showed similar microbial prevalence patterns, and comparable safety in terms of pathogen contamination.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2021

This study evaluated the sanitation management standards for vegetable preparation processes without a cooking stage. The aerobic plate counts (APC), coliform counts, and Escherichia coli of the samples at each production step were analyzed, and microbial growth of the samples stored at different temperatures was measured. The validation was judged in accordance with the microbial criteria stipulated by the British PHLS. After washing and disinfection, the APCs of the two samples decreased to 3~4 log CFU/g in both seasons. Compared to the purchasing stage, the decrease in coliform counts was approximately 0~3 log CFU/g in both seasons; E. coli was not detected. The initial APC and coliform levels of two vegetable samples were 4~5 log CFU/g in both seasons, with an increase of 1 log CFU/g taking more than 6 h at 25℃ and 2 h at 35℃. More than 10 h at 25℃ and 6 h at 35℃ were required to increase the E. coli O157:H7 count by 1~2 log CFU/g for two seasoned samples. In conclusion, washing and disinfection effects and changes in microbial growth during room temperature storage were similar in the two vegetables. Despite the low sanitizing effect of the two vegetables, when cut vegetables were stored under the critical limit within 2 h at two different room temperatures, seasoned lettuce and chicory were at the 'satisfactory' or 'acceptable' levels of PHLS regardless of the storage temperatures. The validation of sanitation management standards applied to vegetable preparation with the no-cook step was approved.