• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.813-817
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• 2012

The effects of dip treatments of chemicals (ascorbic acid, cystein, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, histidine: 1% solution) and medicinal herbs (Pueraria thunbergiana, Angelica gigas, Dioscorea japonica, Lindera strychifolia, Cnidium officinale, Astragalus membranaceus: 1% extracts), heat shock ($40-60^{\circ}C$ water), and edible coating (albumin, dextrin, sucrose poly ester, whole soy flour: 0.5-4% solution) on the browning degree of fresh-cut 'Fuji' apples were studied. Among the each treatment methods, the surface browning of fresh-cut apples was best retarded by calcium chloride dip, Astragalus membranaceus dip, $45-50^{\circ}C$ heat shock, coating with 3% dextrin or 1% whole soy flour. The results suggest that the treatments of medicinal herbs extracts, heat shock, and edible coating can be used as alternative for the use of chemical agents for the antibrowning of fresh-cut apples.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2020

Widespread consumption of fresh-cut vegetables without cooking results in ingestion of major foodborne pathogens including Bacillus cereus. In this study, we aimed to develop a method to rapidly detect B. cereus in fresh-cut vegetables by combining commercial PCR analysis with enrichment of the pathogenic levels. A mixture of B. cereus strains (KCTC1013, KCTC1014, KCTC1092, KCTC1094, and KCTC3624) was inoculated on the surface of fresh-cut cabbage lettuce (20 g) and baby leafy vegetables (10 g) to concentration 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 log CFU/g. Eighty milliliters of TSB with 0.15% polymyxin B was used for cabbage lettuce, and 90 mL of medium was used for baby leafy vegetables and incubated at 42℃ for 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 h. One milliliter of the enriched media was plated on mannitol-egg yolk-polymyxin agar for quantification, and another 1 mL was used for DNA extraction for PCR analysis. Additionally, the minimum number of sub-samples to be tested from a pack of fresh-cut vegetable samples was determined using 5 sub-samples. The results from this study showed that for detecting B. cereus in fresh-cut cabbage lettuce, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 h enrichment were required to at least detect 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 log CFU/g of B. cereus, respectively. B. cereus in fresh-cut baby leafy vegetables could be detected after 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h of enrichment at 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 log CFU/g, respectively, using a combination of enrichment and PCR analysis. To determine if a pack of fresh-cut vegetable is positive, the minimum number of sub-samples should be 3. These results can be used to develop a rapid detection method to semi-quantify B. cereus in fresh-cut vegetable samples combining enrichment and PCR.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.827-833
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• 2017

This study was investigated the effects of various commercial sanitizers on microbial characteristics in fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during storage. For screening sanitizer, lettuce was cut and dipped in chlorine water ($0.2ml{\cdot}L^{-1}$), solution of organic acids such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, mixture of ascorbic acid and acetic acid (1-6%), and solutions of commercial sanitizers such as Formula 4$^{TM}$ (1,3,4%), Fresh produce wash$^{TM}$ (1,3,4%), Cleancol$^{TM}$ (1%), Chitochol$^{TM}$ (1%) and Natural Ca$^{TM}$ (0.1%) for 3 min, respectively. Washing lettuce with selected sanitizers resulted in reduction of aerobic bacteria of more than 2 log CFU/g. Initial pH of lettuce was related with the pH of sanitizers. pH ranged from 4.7 to 6.1 in Formula 4 (4%, pH 1.7) and Natural Ca (0.1%, pH 12.0), respectively. Chlorine water showed consistent and significant inhibition effect in all of microorganisms except total coliform. Over 3% of Formula 4 and Fresh produce wash were found to have high bactericidal activity among sanitizers. The sanitizers of chlorine water, Fresh produce wash, Chitochol and Natural Ca were effective in reducing yeast and mould populations. As coliform and E. coli, Formula 4 (4%) showed the highest bactericidal activity. The bactericidal effect of commercial sanitizers during storage varied with the kinds and concentrations of tested sanitizers. Although inhibition effect was not showed during storage, these results suggest that commercial sanitizers could be an alternative to chlorine for washing fresh-cut produce.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.364-374
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• 2015

This study investigated quality changes in fresh-cut burdocks treated with hot water and anti-browning agents. The combined treatment using both heat treatment and anti-browning agents delayed the browning of burdocks, especially for those dipped in hot water and a solution of green tea extract plus NaCl. This treatment reduced the respiration rate and inhibited the growth of microorganisms more than heat treatment alone. The organoleptic quality of burdocks treated with the combined method proved to be the best according to sensory evaluation. Hence, this combined treatment using heat and anti-browning agents can enhance overall quality of processed fresh-cut root vegetables by browning inhibition and shelf-life extension.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.909-919
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the demand and use of fresh-cut produce in school foodservice and restaurant industries. The subjects of this survey study were 200 school nutritionists and 70 cooks or managers in the restaurant industry nationwide. The data were collected by means of self-administered or e-mail questionnaires. Data analysis was completed using the SPSS window (ver. 12.0) program including frequency, $\chi^2$-test and t-test. Survey questions assessed the general characteristic of respondents, and the supply, use, and demand of fresh-cut produce in school foodservice and restaurant industries. Over 74% of the subjects have used fresh-cut produce. Most of the school foodservice (84.0%) kept fresh-cut produce for one day, while restaurant industry (28.3%) kept them up to three days. The nutritionists of school foodservice and managers of restaurant industry considered origin and date of production as the most important factor, respectively, when fresh-cut produce were being used. Fresh-cut root vegetable, such as potato and carrot was used mostly. The main reason not to use the fresh cut produce was due to the distrust of the fresh-cut produce safety in school foodservice and cost in restaurant industry. The main problem in fresh-cut produce use was the need of rewashing (29.9%) in school foodservice and irregular size (39.0%) in restaurant industry. These results indicate that the quality standard and size specification must be prepared with production guideline of safe fresh-cut produce.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Fresh-cut burdock roots were processed at 4 and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. The fresh-cut burdock roots were treated with different browning inhibitors (3% citric acid, 3% sodium chloride, 0.3% cystein, and 3% sodium acetate solutions), and the changes in their quality and browning characteristics were investigated. The respiration rate and browning index of the cut roots prepared at $4^{\circ}C$ were lower than those of the cut roots prepared at $25^{\circ}C$. The soluble solid content was higher in the cut roots prepared at $4^{\circ}C$ than in those prepared at $25^{\circ}C$. The weight loss and flesh firmness were not affected by the processing temperatures. Among the browning inhibitors, 0.3% cystein showed the best browning-retarding effect. There was no difference in phenolic compound content between the browning-inhibitor-treated roots and the nontreated roots, but the PPO activity was higher in the latter than in the former. Therefore, the processing temperatures of fresh-cut burdock roots affected their quality and browning development, and the combination of a low processing temperature and the use of the proper browning inhibitor should be applied for the higher quality of the produce.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

To examine the availability of onggi (earthenware) as a floral vase, we compared the vase life of cut gerberas (Gerbera jamesonii) with generally used vases made of glass and porcelain. After holding cut gerbera 'Honeymoon' and 'Golden Time' in vases made of glass, porcelain, and onggi containing holding solution (tap water or preservative solution), vase life, fresh weight, and water uptake of cut flowers, and total number of microbes in holding solution were collected. In onggi vase, vase life of both the cultivars was longer than the other vases and floral preservative prolonged vase life compared with tap water. Cut gerberas applied with preservative solution in onggi vase maintained their ornamental value for more than 14 days. Cumulative water uptake by cut gerberas was greatest in onggi vase, where 'Honeymoon' and 'Golden Time' absorbed water by 19.2 and 15.8 mL, respectively, for 10 days. Fresh weight of cut flowers in onggi vase was greater than those of the others, and the preservative solution delayed the reduction of fresh weight compared with tap water. Especially, onggi vase with preservative solution maintained 89% of the initial fresh weight at the 8th day of the treatments due to smooth water uptake with comparison with 71% in porcelain. Total number of microbes in the holding solution was smallest in onggi vase. At the 8th day, microbes number in onggi vase was 435 cfu/mL, that was 20-30% level of those of glass and porcelain vases. In conclusion, onggi vase inhibited microbial proliferation in holding solution, maintained water uptake by cut flower, and delayed bending of flower stalks due to vascular blockage, and then prolonged vase life in gerbera. Therefore, onggi with numerous micropores will be a good material for flower vase and preservative solution can improve its function.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.347-351
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• 2008

The effect of microperforated packaging films on fresh-cut apples was studied Apples (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Red Delicious) were cored and cut, packaged in laser microperforated film or non-microperforated polyolefin film, and stored for 3 weeks at 4C. The flesh firmness of apples packaged in microperforated film during the storage period was significantly higher than that of apples packaged in non-microperforated film, and the level of soluble solids was also higher. The browning index, titratable acidity, pH, acetaldehyde and ethanol levels were not affected by microperforation. These results show that microperforated films could be used for retention of flesh firmness in fresh-cut apples.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.809-814
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• 2021

This study was performed to evaluate the microbiological quality of fresh cut fruits in Korea. Forty freshly cut fruit samples were assessed for aerobic mesophilic count (AM), aerobic psychrophilic count (AP), total coliform, generic Escherichia coli, yeast and mold (YM), Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7. The average value for AM, AP, and YM was 4.51, 5.35, and 4.31 log CFU/g, respectively. The average of the total coliform was 2.42 log CFU/g, and E. coli was not detected in all samples. For foodborne pathogen bacteria, B. cereus and S. aureus were detected in 2.5 and 7.5% samples, respectively, and Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in all samples. Among the samples, pear generally had the highest contamination level. Therefore, to assure the safety of fresh cut fruits, low temperature and thorough hygiene management should be implemented.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation of oocyte number with serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels measured by two automated methods (Access or Elecsys) in fresh stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Methods: In this retrospective study at a university hospital, data were collected from 243 fresh stimulated IVF cycles performed from August 2016 to December 2020. The serum AMH level was measured by Access in 120 cycles and by Elecsys in 123 cycles. The cut-off of serum AMH for prediction of poor responders (three or fewer oocytes) or high responders (15 or more oocytes) was calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: For the two automated methods, the following equations were derived: total oocyte number=2.378+1.418×(Access-AMH) (r=0.645, p<0.001) and total oocyte number=2.417+2.163×(Elecsys-AMH) (r=0.686, p<0.001). The following combined equation could be derived: (Access-AMH)=0.028+1.525×(Elecsys-AMH). To predict poor responders, the cut-off of Access-AMH was 1.215 ng/mL (area under the curve [AUC], 0.807; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.730-0.884; p<0.001), and the cut-off of Elecsys-AMH was 1.095 ng/mL (AUC, 0.848; 95% CI, 0.773-0.923; p<0.001). To predict high responders, the cut-off of Access-AMH was 3.450 ng/mL (AUC, 0.922; 95% CI, 0.862-0.981; p<0.001), and the cut-off of Elecsys-AMH was 2.500 ng/mL (AUC, 0.884; 95% CI, 0.778-0.991; p<0.001). Conclusion: Both automated methods for serum AMH measurement showed a good correlation with oocyte number and good performance for predicting poor and high responders in fresh stimulated IVF cycles. The Access method usually yielded higher measured serum AMH levels than the Elecsys method.