• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2010

The epidemiology of reported food-borne disease (FBD) outbreaks from 2001 to 2008 in Korea nd Japan were compared in this study. The outbreak rate of FBD in Japan was significantly higher although the average umber of patient in each outbreak in Korea was much higher. In both countries, summer was the season when most FBD outbreaks occurred. The comparison study revealed that FBD outbreaks in spring were more frequent in Korea, and outbreaks in winter were more frequent in Japan. Almost half of FBD outbreaks were observed at restaurants in both countries while FBD outbreaks at schools and work-places in Korea were much higher than in Japan. The most frequent cause of bacterial FBDs in Korea was pathogenic Escherichia coli followed by Salmonella species. On the other hand, Campylobacter jejuni was the most frequent source of bacterial FBDs in Japan. Norovirus, which is elated to uncontrolled hand hygiene and involvement of ill food workers, was the main cause of viral FBDs in both countries. In conclusion, there are common epidemiological characteristics as well as several differences in FBD outbreaks of Korea and Japan. These are suggested to be originated from the characteristic of climate, food sources, and life styles in two countries. Establishment of stricter control and surveillance system for FBD outbreaks are required or prevention and reduction of FBD outbreaks in both countries.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to analyze the hygienic problems of group food services and to predict the outbreak patterns of future food-borne diseases. A delphi survey with 20 experts identified the main causes of food-borne outbreaks in group food services as improper hygienic management of raw food materials, washing of worker's hands, dividing the spaces and unsanitary retail storage. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli (EPEC), non-typhoid Salmonella serotypes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (ETEC), norovirus, and the hepatitis A virus all have potential to cause outbreaks of food-borne disease. We analyzed the daily food use and the possibility of food-borne outbreaks in school food services for fruits, milk, fish, pork, eggs, and meat as raw food materials, and bibimbab, soybean sprouts muchim, spinach namul, cucumber sengchae, jabchae, and pork bulgogi as prepared food items. Frozen (${\leq}\;-20^{\circ}C$) and refrigerated ($0{\sim}10^{\circ}C$) processed foods are popular items in group food services. Their storage, heating, and chemical sanitization methods are potential sources of food disease outbreaks. Our results can be applied to a well-organized hygiene control system and can be used to develop menus for preventing food-borne outbreaks.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.3.1-3.10
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• 2018

Background: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the most common causes of seafood-borne illnesses in Korea, either directly or indirectly, by consuming infected seafood. Many studies have demonstrated the antibiotic susceptibility profile of V. parahaemolyticus. This strain has developed multiple antibiotic resistance, which has raised serious public health and economic concerns. This article reviews the food-borne outbreaks, distributions, virulence, and antibiotic resistance profiles of V. parahaemolyticus in Korea during 2003-2016. Main body: V. parahaemolyticus infections appeared to be seasonally dependent, because 69.7% of patient infections occurred in both August and September during 2003-2016. In addition, the occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus in marine environments varies seasonally but is particularly high in July, August, and September. V. parahaemolyticus isolated from aquaculture sources on the Korean coast varied in association with virulence genes, some did not possess either the tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin) or trh (tdh-related hemolysin) genes, and a few were positive for only the trh gene or both genes. The high percentage of ampicillin resistance against V. parahaemolyticus in the aquatic environment suggests that ampicillin cannot be used to effectively treat infections caused by this organism. Short conclusion: This study shows that the observed high percentage of multiple antibiotic resistance to V. parahaemolyticus is due to conventionally used antibiotics. Therefore, monitoring the antimicrobial resistance patterns at a national level and other solutions are needed to control aquaculture infections, ensure seafood safety, and avoid threats to public health caused by massive misuse of antibiotics.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.499-505
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• 2006

Clostridium botulinum spores are widely distributed in nature. Type A and proteolytic type B bacteria produce heat-resistant spores that are primarily involved in most of the food-borne botulism outbreaks associated with low-acid canned foods. Food-borne botulism results from the consumption of food in which C. botulinum has grown and produced neurotoxin. Growth and toxin production of type A and proteolytic type B in canned foods can be prevented by the use of thermal sterilization alone or in combination with salt and nitrite. The hazardousness of C. botulinum in low-acid canned foods can also be reduced by preventing post-process contamination and introducing hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) practices during production. Effectiveness of non-thermal technologies such as high pressure processing with elevated process temperatures on inactivation of spores of C. botulinum will be discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze cases of food poisoning outbreaks reported in Chungcheongnamdo Province in 2019 and report it as effective data for preventing food poisoning in the future. Methods: Food poisoning outbreaks were analyzed to detect virus, bacteria, and protozoa according to the Manual for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Outbreaks to clarify the causes of food poisoning that occurred in Chungcheongnam-do Province in 2019. Results: Among the 79 cases of food poisoning outbreaks, 59 cases (74.7%) were in general restaurants, 15 cases (19.0%) in food service institutions, three cases at banquets, and two cases in take-out food. The 42 cases at general seafood restaurants made up the majority of food poisoning in Chungcheongnam-do. Food poisoning pathogens were shown in 13 cases (86.7%) out of the 15 cases at food service institutions, and 10 cases were related to Norovirus. Among the 79 cases, food-borne pathogens were identified in 35 cases of outbreaks, accounting for 44.3%. The confirmed pathogens were as follows: bacteria (24 cases), Norovirus (12 cases) and Kudoa septempunctata. (five cases). The food-borne bacteria were pathogenic E. coli (12 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (six cases), Salmonella spp. (two cases), Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (one case). Conclusions: To prevent food poisoning, it is necessary to analyze regional characteristics and environments and to hold a campaign for the prevention of food poisoning based on that analysis. In addition, when food poisoning occurs, the results of analyzing its cause and spread based on accurate epidemiological survey need to be shared.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2013

Milk and dairy products are not only excellent foods for humans, providing plentiful varied nutrients, but are also a good medium for detrimental food-borne pathogens. Although the food safety field has stabilized due to standardization of food processing, such as the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP), outbreaks and cases caused by food-borne pathogens still occur at high rates. In approximately 30% of cases, the disease-causing pathogenic organism is undetermined. Recently, a biosensor was developed that has a simple and fast response and overcomes the problems of conventional methods such as cultivation, immuno-assay, polymerase chain reaction, and microarray. Due to the high selectivity and sensitivity of optical biosensors, it is a suitable method for the immediate detection of food-borne pathogens in milk and dairy products.

• 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.

• Safe Food
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.3-14
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• 2009

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.578-581
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• 2006

Fishery products were collected in seafood markets located on the southwestern coast of Korea between 2000 and 2004 and examined for the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This strain was detected in 138 of 843 samples (16.4%) that included dams, eels, crabs, octopuses, and cockles. The number of positive findings for V. parahaemolyticus among fishery products was the highest in dams at 23.6% followed by eels at 22.1%, crabs at 21.1%, octopuses at 18.0%, and cockles at 14.3%. V. parahaemolyticus was detected with overall frequencies of 15.3, 14.8, 13.8, 21.6, and 18.6% from 2000 to 2004, respectively. The monthly occurrence of the organism rapidly increased to over 20% between June and October. The monthly cases of food borne disease caused by V. parahaemolyticus in Korea over the last five years began to increase in August and reached its peak in September. However, the potential for outbreaks of food borne disease caused by V. parahaemolyticus was relatively minor between November and April. Consequently, this study shows that fishery products harvested from June to October must be handled sanitarily in Korea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2020

Diarrhea is a major public health concern associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli infections. Food-borne pathogenic E. coli can lead to large diarrheal outbreaks and hence, there is a need to estimate the frequency of pathogenic E. coli load in the various types of meat available in markets. In the present study, we classified and characterized diarrheagenic E. coli isolates collected from 399 raw meat samples from retail sources in Korea. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) were detected in 11 (9.7%) samples, including nine strains (8.0%) in beef and two strains (1.8%) in chicken. The frequency of the detected virulence markers were as follows: astA, 28.3%; escV,18.6%; eaeA,17.7%; ent, 7.0%; EHEC-hly, 4.4%; stx1, 3.5%; and stx2, 3.5%. We did not observe any typical EPEC, EIEC, or ETEC virulence determinants in any of the samples. The STEC serotype O26 was detected in one sample, but no other serogroups (O91, O103, O128, O157, O145, O111, and O121) were found. Further research is needed to better understand the virulence mechanism of STEC serotypes, their ecology, and prevalence in animals, food, and the environment. These results will help improve risk assessment and predict the sources of food poisoning outbreaks.