• Food Science and Industry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.12-26
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• 2017

Processing steps such as washing and cutting, involved in preparing fresh-cut produce causes tissue damage, leading to rapid quality deterioration. Major defects of fresh-cut produce are discoloration, softening, off-odor development, and microbial growth. Packaging of fresh-cut produce has been changed to reduce these quality problems. Flexible packaging film is widely used to pack fresh-cut produce. Vacuum packaging was the popular packaging method in the beginning of fresh-cut industry in Korea. Vacuum packaging creates high $CO_2$ and low $O_2$ levels to control browning of fresh-cut produce. However, these conditions induce some visual defects and off-odor development. Discoloration problem was also found when fresh-cut produce was packaged with conventional packaging film or plastic tray. Modified atmosphere (MA) packaging is effective for prolonging shelf-life of fresh-cut produce by decreasing $O_2$ and increasing $CO_2$ concentration in the package. Retail MA packaging using different oxygen transmission rate (OTR) film and micro-perforated film has started to be applied to fresh-cut produce in Korea. Proper MA package design that provides optimum range of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ partial pressures is one of the major challenges in the industry. An initial package flushing with $N_2$ or an low $O_2$/high $CO_2$ atmosphere is also used to more rapidly establish steady-state MA condition. Film OTR and $O_2$ flushing affects the fermentative volatile production, off-odor development, electrolyte leakage, discoloration, $CO_2$ injury, microbial population of fresh-cut produce. There is also a demand for convenient packaging to attract consumers. Rigid fresh-cut produce container for retail market has increased since the packaging provides excellent protection from physical damage during transport. Rigid tray used as actual serving vessel for the consumer is increasing in Korea. The tray with flexible lid to wrap or seal fresh-cut produce is more and more gaining popularity. Further practical technology to control quality change and microbial growth for each fresh-cut product has been studied since various fresh-cut items were required. The fresh-cut industry also focuses on searching for more convenient and environmentally friendly packaging.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2017

The intake of dietary salt through food now exceeds current nutritional recommendations and is thought to have negative effects on human health, such as the increasing prevalence of hypertension. This study was performed to investigate whether $W_1/O/W_2$ double emulsions can be used to enhance the saltiness of cheese without increasing the salt content ($W_1$ is distilled water or 1% abalone hydrolysate, and $W_2$ is 1% NaCl or 1% abalone hydrolysate + 1% NaCl solution). We also investigated the effect of adding abalone hydrolysate to the double emulsion as a saltiness enhancer. The cheeses were physico-chemically evaluated to determine curd yield, pH value, moisture content, color, texture, salt release rate, and sensory properties. No significant differences were observed in curd yield, pH value, moisture content, lightness, or redness between the cheeses made with and without the double emulsion. However, in the evaluation of salt release rate, fresh cheese made with double emulsion ($W_1$ = distilled water, $W_2$ = 1% NaCl + 1% abalone hydrolysate) was detected earlier than the control or the other treatments. In the sensory evaluation, fresh cheese made with the double emulsion showed higher scores for saltiness and overall preference than the control or the other treatments. We concluded that abalone hydrolysate encapsulated in a double emulsion ($W_1$ is water and $W_2$ is abalone hydrolysate and NaCl solution) could enhance the saltiness of fresh cheese while maintaining the same salt concentration, without altering its physical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.269-280
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between HMR use and eating habits in young Korean adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 575 adults (232 men, 343 women) in their 20s and 30s in Korea. Their use of HMRs (classified as ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook, and fresh convenience foods) and eating habits were surveyed. The main reasons for HMR use by men and women were convenience (54.7%, 64.4%) and promptness (24.2%, 24.2%), respectively. The most frequent place for HMR purchase was a convenience store (74.1% and 65.0%, respectively). Regarding the frequency of HMR use, 1~2 times a week was the highest for ready-to-eat (40.9%) and ready-to-cook (30.1%), while no eating was the highest for fresh convenience foods (41.0%). HMR preference was the highest (3.8 out of 5 on a 5-point scale) for ready-to-eat, followed by ready-to-cook (3.3 points) and fresh convenience foods (3.3 points). The use frequency and preference of total HMRs, ready-to-eat foods, and ready-to-eat foods were positively correlated with unfavorable eating habits, including unbalanced eating, overeating, salty eating, spicy eating, skipping, and irregular meals. However, fresh convenience foods showed negative correlations with unbalanced eating, overeating, and salty eating. The use frequency and preference of total HMRs, ready-to-eat foods, and ready-to-cook foods were positively correlated with undesirable eating habits. However, fresh convenience food showed a negative correlation with eating habits such as unbalanced, overeating, and salty eating. These results should be considered for favorable food production and consumer guidance to promote healthy food choices.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.80-91
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to establish the superiority of ohmic heating over conventional heating for the sterilization of mulberry juice. Heat treatment of fresh juice significantly reduced the concentration of soluble solids, lowered the pH, and lowered the reducing sugar content (p<0.01). Color measurements showed decreases in the L and a values and increases in the b, H and C values after heat treatment, although the total color differences were smaller after ohmic heating than after conventional heating of fresh juice. The antioxidant capacities, such as reducing power, FRAP, and DPPH, decreased in the order of fresh juice, ohmically heated juice and conventionally heated juice. Furthermore, the anthocyanin, flovonoid, and total antioxidant capacities of the juices significantly decreased in the same order. Sensory evaluations showed no difference between fresh and ohmically heated mulberry fruit juice excluding off-flavor, whereas conventionally heated juice received significantly lower evaluations. The microbial counts were zero in the juice after either heat treatment. Thus, ohmic heat treatment can be effectively used to sterilize fresh mulberry juice to obtain good shelf life with minimal physicochemical, color, antioxidant and sensory deterioration.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2012

Whole apples were cut with a sharp or dull knife, and whole cabbages and crisp lettuce heads were cut into salad or thin strips with a knife or by hand. The fresh-cut apples, cabbages, and lettuce were packed in low-density polyethylene bags and kept at $4^{\circ}C$, and their qualities were investigated. Browning and softening of the apples that were cut with a sharp knife were more delayed than those of the apples that were cut with a dull knife. The soluble solids and pH of the fresh-cut apples were not affected by the sharpness of the cutting blade. The browning indexes of the fresh-cut cabbages and lettuce were significantly lower in the samples that were cut with a knife than by hand and in the samples that were cut into large pieces. The results suggest that the cutting blade sharpness, cutting tools, and cut types affected the quality of the fresh-cut apples and leafy vegetables, and that the cutting methods which minimized the cutting damage should be used to retard the browning and softening of the produce.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.106-124
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• 2022

Purpose - The increasing share of Korean private label products (PLPs) in the domestic market helped generate lucrative revenue. In recent years, major South Korean retailers have begun to cast their sights on overseas markets and actively export their PLPs. In China, the proportion of private label fresh food (PLFF) is gradually expanding amid the development of the new retailing model. A profound understanding of the relationship between private label fresh produce and purchase intention may be the answer to helping Chinese retailer private labels expand supply chains in Korea. This study, taking Chinese retailers as an example, examines the impacts of selection factors of private label fresh food and perceived value on purchase intention. Apart from that, the relationship between the selection factors and purchase intention will be analyzed with perceived value as a mediator. Design/methodology - This work aims to empirically analyze the purchase intention of private label fresh food using statistical analysis. In this study, a hypothetical causal model consisting of 6 latent variables and 24 measured variables is developed based on the literature review. To validate the research hypotheses and the research model, SPSS23.0/AMOS23.0 is used to analyze factors such as validity and reliability, as well as structural equation modeling. Findings - The hypothetical model established in this study is of general applicability. In respect to PLFF, perceived value, while significantly influencing purchase intention in combination with four selection factors (perceived quality, perceived price, brand trust, and store image), mediates partially between the first three factors and purchase intention, which rules out the impact and mediating effect of store image on purchase intention. Originality/value - These research results, as helpful insights into the present circumstances of Chinese PLFF in the domestic market, provide useful information and guidance for Korean retailers and service providers to innovate production and service, as well as develop marketing and promotion strategies, so that they can shift private label goods with advantages from domestic demand to export, thus increasing overseas profitability. Further, this work will also contribute to relevant research.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.405-409
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• 2010

Surface cleaning is both essential and troublesome when a consumer seeks to eliminate soil attached to the surface of fresh ginseng because all ginseng purchased in the market is covered with soil, reflecting the post-harvest situation. To facilitate ginseng use at home, a fresh-cut type of ginseng is required. As a first step toward production of such ginseng, several washing and dipping treatments were investigated with respect to surface cleaning and reduction of microbial populations on fresh ginseng. In terms of microbial distribution on the surface of fresh ginseng, higher levels of viable bacteria (6.63 log CFU/each) and fungi (5.12 log CFU/each) were present on the rhizome head than on other regions of the root. Of the washing treatments tested, hand-brushing was effective for surface cleaning and to reduce microorganism levels on fresh ginseng, but use of a high-pressure water spray followed by hand-brushing was optimally effective. To further reduce the levelsof microorganisms on the surface of fresh ginseng after washing, additional dipping treatments in 70% (v/v) ethanol and electrolyzed acidic water (at pH 2.3) were somewhat effective but showed no significant differences compared with other dipping treatments tested, including a 3 ppm ozone solution, a 200 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution, or hot water at $50^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate spoilage bacteria on organic and conventional fresh produce in Korea. Three samples (perilla leaf, cabbage, and romaine lettuce) of organic and conventional fresh produce were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 14 days and examined for spoilage bacteria on TSA. Isolated bacteria from organic and conventional fresh produces were identified using 16S rRNA sequencing method. Population of total aerobic bacteria on conventional perilla leaf, cabbage, and romaine lettuce were 7.59, 7.01, and $5.84{\log}_{10}CFU/g$, and populations of total aerobic bacteria were 6.72, 6.15, and $5.85{\log}_{10}CFU/g$, for organic perilla leaf, cabbage, and romaine lettuce, respectively. Major spoilage bacteria of organic and conventional fresh produces were similar however their levels were little different. For example, a major spoilage bacterium resulting the highest level on conventional perilla leaf was Stenotrophomonas maltophilia whereas that was Microbacterium sp. for organic produce. From these results, microflora or spoilage microorganism could be different depending on their cultivation types as conventional or organic produces and this information might be used for developing effective preservation method for different types of fresh produce.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2006

Possible application of hurdle technology extention of shelf-life of fresh-cut apples was investigated by evaluating various hurdle factors known to be effective microbial growth inhibitors and their synergistic effects. Fresh-cut apples treated with chitooligosaccharide or grapefruit seed extract (GSE) showed higher microbial counts than those treated with distilled water during latter half of storage period, and at high concentrations. Citric and malic acids showed similar results, although microbial counts of fresh-cut apples treated with 0.75% or higher concentration of citric acid increased at 4 days of storage at $18^{\circ}C$, indicating malic acid is more effective than all hurdles tested for controlling microbial growth. Using ascorbic acid and calcium chloride as additional hurdles to control browning and softening, minimum and maximum compositions of dipping solution were: 0.25 : 0.5 : 0.25% and 0.75 : 1.0 : 0.75% malic acid: ascorbic acid: calcium chloride, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.713-717
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• 1994

Effects of packing materials on the gas compositions in package of fresh peeled garlic (Allium sativum L.) were investigated. The fresh peeled garlics packed in $20,\;40,\;60\;{\mu}m$ LDPE and $30\;{\mu}m$ HDPE pouches were stored at $20^{\circ}C$, 76% RH. The variables including respiration characteristics, gas compositions, general appearance, and film permeabilities to $O_2$, $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ vapor were measured. A model was evaluated for the prediction of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ equilibrium concentrations inside packages and for the optimization of packaging parameters. Experimental and simulated gas composition results were found to be in good agreement. The $30\;{\mu}m$ HDPE pouch with 4% $O_2$ and 7.5%$CO_2$ equilibrium concentrations conferred the best appearance of peeled garlic, giving 6 days of storage life. As a result, MA seemed to have a beneficial effect on appearance of fresh peeled garlic, possibly due to reduced microbial activity.