• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2004

This study was performed to assess the microbiological quality of kimbap (rice balls rolled in laver) prepared in two conditions (normal condition or clean, sanitized condition) and to support a practical application to identify critical control points (CCPs) in the preparation and cooking processes of kimbap. Kimbap, raw materials of kimbap, utensils (knives, cutting board, and kimbal which is made of bamboo), and hands of food handlers were examined microbiologically. Airborne microbes in the kitchens were also evaluated. Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in all samples. The aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria levels of all samples in clean, sanitized condition were much lower than those in normal condition. More aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were counted in unheated raw materials of kimbap than in heated raw materials. In both conditions, the levels of airborne microbes of the kitchens were satisfactory. The aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria of kimbap prepared in clean, sanitized condition were one hundredth levels of those of kimbap prepared in normal condition. However, fecal coliforms were detected even in the kimbap prepared in clean, sanitized condition. The results indicate that microbiological contamination of kimbap may be mainly originated from the contaminated unheated raw materials, utensils, and hands of food handlers, and also possible cross-contamination during preparation. The CCPs for kimbap preparation and cooking were handling of unheated raw materials, cleaning and sanitizing utensils, and hand washing of food handlers.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2010

Objectives: An outbreak of norovirus occurred at a high school in Gyeongju city in 2009. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to examine the infection source and the transmission route of norovirus, and to prevent a recurrence. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 520 male students and 8 food handlers. Rectal swabs were examined in 21 symptomatic students and the 8 food handlers by Gyeongsangbukdo Government Public Institute of Health & Environment, and an environmental investigation was performed. A case-control study was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and disease. Results: The attack rate was 21.3% (111/520) between January 29 and February 10, and norovirus GII was isolated from 12 of 21 students. Food handlers had no symptoms and their stool samples were negative. The case-control study revealed that seasoned soy bean sprouts {odds ratio (OR): 2.542, 95% CI=1.315-4.915} and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria (OR: 2.854, 95% CI=1.107-7.358) supplied on February 3 were significant risk factors for the outbreak. Water pipes and waste pipes were located in the same place where was filled with some water and trace of high water level was detected. Conclusions: The major risk factors for this norovirus outbreak were presumed to be the contaminated seasoned soy bean sprouts and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria. More strict personal and environmental hygiene need to be enforced to prevent such outbreaks.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2010

This study examined the extent of improvement of food safety knowledge and practices of employee through food safety training. Employee knowledge and practice for food safety were evaluated before and after the food safety training program. The training program and questionnaires for evaluating employee knowledge and practices concerning food safety, and a checklist for determining food safety performance of restaurants were developed. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Twelve restaurants participated in this study. We split them into two groups: the intervention group with training, and the control group without food safety training. Employee knowledge of the intervention group also showed a significant improvement in their score, increasing from 49.3 before the training to 66.6 after training. But in terms of employee practices and the sanitation performance, there were no significant increases after the training. From these results, we recommended that the more job-specific and hand-on training materials for restaurant employees should be developed and more continuous implementation of the food safety training and integration of employee appraisal program with the outcome of safety training were needed.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2001

Korea has experiencing outbreaks of food borne illnesses since school feeding programs had been introduced to students. In order to prevent food borne diseases, preventive measures applicable to Korean school system were reviewed. The conclusions are summarized as follows; 1. Raw materials should be purchased through reliable sources in order to ensure the quality of food stuffs in the aspect of food safety and hygiene. 2. The potential causes of food borne illnesses should be carefully identified and control system should be established in order to monitor critical points. 3. Temperature of refrigeration should be monitored and controled continuously in order to safeguard the quality of foods. 4. National and local governments have to provide adequate equipment and utensils to the food establishments of school systems, and public health authorities have to make evaluation of the facilities periodically. The food handlers should be trained in safe food handling and the ways how to prevent food borne illnesses.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

Objectives: An outbreak of food poisoning occurred among the baseball club students at a high school in Ulsan city in 2014. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to examine the infection source and the transmission route of pathogen, and to prevent a recurrence. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 26 male students and 2 food handlers. Rectal swabs were examined in 7 students and the 2 food handlers, and an environmental investigation was performed. A retrospective cohort study was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and disease. Results: The attack rate was 35.7% (10 persons/28 persons) from June 9 to 14, and Enterotoxigenic E. coli ST/LT was isolated from 7 among 28 persons. The study revealed that no food was a significant risk factor for the outbreak. There were no connection between environmental factors and the outbreak. Conclusions: The major risk factors for this outbreak were presumed to be the contaminated ice cube and ice making machines and eating ice cube from the machines. More strict personal and environmental hygiene need to be enforced to prevent such outbreaks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 1995

A hazard analysis which included watching operations, measuring temperatures of foods throughout preparation and display, and sampling and testing for microorganisms of total plate counts and coliform bacteria was conducted in various phases of product flow of Korean soups (Galbitang, Sullungtang, Jangkuk) prepared at Korean restaurants. Cooked foods were sometimes held at room temperature long enough to permit multiplication of bacteria that might have been present. This was confirmed by the finding of large numbers of aerobic mesophilic colonies ($10^6$) in samples of such foods after handling and holding for several hours before served. These bacteria decreased down to $10^1{\sim}10^2$ while the contaminated Tang were served. And internal temperature of Tang served was approximately $70^{\circ}C$. Critical control points identified were, pre-preparation, handling after cooking and holding on display. Guidelines were suggested for effective quality control of Tang (Korean soups) production. Handlers of these foods need to be informed of the hazards and appropriate preventive measures.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 1990

The survey was conducted for the period from 25 th to 29 th July, 1990. The survey area were selected the mountain area in Kang Won Province. Intake of foods and nutrients of all members in the households surveyed by means of questionnaire was computed based on number of meals a day. On the other hand, daily intake of nutrients by an individual was calculated by sex, age and type of work based on the conversion rate of RDA (Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances for Adult). 1. Status of food intake. The average food intake per person per day in surveyed area was 1103.49 g. The total intake of food was consisted of 44.17% grains, 23.31% vegetables, 10.66% fruits, respectively. These findings led us to the conclusion that people in the surveyed area depended heavily on plant foods. 2. Status of nutrient intake, 1) The average intake of Calorie was 2567.54 Cal Per day, which was slightly higher than 2500 Cal of RDA. 2) The average Intake of protein was 82.92g per day, which was higher than 70g of RDA. Though the quantity was above the RDA, it was largely from plant foods 3) The average intake of calcium was 383.93 mg per day, which was much lower than 500 mg of RDA. 4) The average intake of iron was 11.88 me per day, which was nearly the same quantity as 10 mg of RDA. 5) Intake of vitamin group were high among the inhabitants than recommended by RDA 3. The Kinds of food intake The kinds of food intake in surveyed area were totally 66 different kinds. 4. Economic status. As for the education level, almost of the food handlers finished the primary school and the average monthly income was 364,600 in surveyed area. Households used gas(100%) for fuel.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.220-231
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate elementary students' awareness of the importance of hand washing, as well as their hand-washing behavior. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire from 697 students in elementary schools with serving food in a classroom in Busan. Their hand-washing frequency was high, at '3~4 times per day (37.0%)'. 51.0% of the respondents did not wash their hands that often because they were 'not accustomed' to washing their hands, and 35.9% of respondents regarded washing their hands as 'annoying'. The most frequently reported hand washing agent was 'soap and water (71.4%)'. Approximately 95~98% of the respondents always washed their hands after using the bathroom, 87.9% of them washed their hands before eating food, and 86.7% of them washed their hands upon returning home. However, 27.3%, 34.1% and 65.9% of the respondents did not wash their hands after handling money, after eating, and after coughing or sneezing, respectively. Significant factors related to increased hand-washing frequency were gender (p<0.001) and the period of attendance at kindergarten (p<0.05). The mean scores of importance and performance of hand washing were significantly higher for girls than for boys. The group with higher rate (over 4.5/5.0) for the importance of sanitary hand-washing behavior showed significantly higher scores in hand-washing behavior before serving food and before eating than those of the lower rated group (below 4.0/5.0). This study shows that sanitation education is required not only for food handlers but also for students in school foodservices.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the equipment ratio of sanitary facility/equipment as well as the sanitary management performance level at foodservice of correctional institutions in Korea. For this purpose, a total of 47 questionnaires were distributed to dietitians working at correctional institutions during the period from March 20th to May 18th of 2008. A total of 38 questionnaires (response rate 81%) was analyzed using SPSS (windows ver. 14.0). The majority of the respondents were females (65.8%), 35 years or older (55.3%), with 7 years or longer experiences (65.8%), and with education level of university or higher (60.5%). Among the institutions, 39.5% had less than 500, 28.9% had 501 or more but less than 1,200, and 31.6% had 1,201 or more inmates. The equipment ratio of the sanitary facilities/equipment was 49.7%, which was relatively low. Most dietitians perceived 'limited availability of facilities and equipment' and 'the lack of support from financing department' as the major barriers in implementing a desirable sanitary system. On the other hand, perceived sanitary management performance was rated by the respondents as being between 2.55 to 4.50 (5-point Likert scale)-'Cleaning hands properly as specified' showed the lowest performance, whereas 'Sampling preserved meals by standard methodology' showed the highest. The results of this study suggest that a sanitary education program designed for inmate food handlers is needed for successful sanitary management.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.240-253
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• 1997

The main problems contributing to food poisoning outbreaks in institutional settings and a home were reviewed and analyzed through the epidemiological investigations of food poisoning. The major documented factors included improper holding temperatures, inadequate cooking, poor personal hygiene, cross-contamination and contaminated equipment, food from unsafe sources, failure to follow food hygiene policies, and lack of education, training, monitoring and superivision. Usually more than one factor contributed to the development of an outbreak. (1) Use of improper holding temperatures was the single most important factor contributing to food poisoning. They included improper cooling, allowing a laps of time (12 hours or more) between preparing food and eating it, improper hot holding, and inadequate or improper thawing. Food thermometers were not used in most of the instances. (2) In inadequate cooking, the core temperature of food during and after cooking had not been measured, and routine monitoring was limited to recording the temperature of plated meals. Compared with conventional methods of cooking, microwave ovens did not protect against food poisoning as effectively. Centralized food preparation potentially increased the risk of food poisoning outbreaks. (3) Poor personal hygiene both at the individual level (improper handwashing and lack of proper hygienic practices) and at the institutional level (poor general sanitization) increased the risk of transmission. Person to person transmission of enteric pathogens through direct contact and via fomites has been noted in several instances. (4) Obtaining food from unsafe sources was a risk factor in outbreaks of food poisoning. Food risks were high when food was grown or harvested from contaminated areas. Possibilities included contamination in the field, in transport, at the retail site, or at the time it was prepared for serving. (5) Cross-contamination and inadequate cleaning/handling of equipment became potential vehicles of food poisoning. Failure to separate cooked food from raw food was also a risk factor. (6) Failure to follow food hygiene policies also provided opportunities for outbreaks of food poisoning. It included improper hygienic practices during food preparation, neglect of personnel policies (involvement of symptomatic workers in food preparation), poor results on routine inspections, and disregarding the results and recommendations of an inspection. (7) Lack of formal and in-service education, training, monitoring, and supervision of food handlers or supervisors were critical and perhaps neglected elements in occurrences of food poisoning.