• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.495-503
• /
• 2011

We evaluated the quality characteristics of fresh-cut produce (potato, sweet potato, carrot, radish, zucchini, cucumber, and green bell pepper) washed with sodium hypochlorite, which were vacuum packaged, and stored at 4 and 10$^{\circ}C$. The L-values of the fresh-cut potato and sweet potato decreased during storage. Lower PPO activities of potato and sweet potato were observed at 4$^{\circ}C$ than those at 10$^{\circ}C$ and development of potato and sweet potato browning was delayed at 4$^{\circ}C$. Total aerobic count and coliform increased continuously at 10$^{\circ}C$ during storage. Diced zucchini and shredded sweet potato had the greatest reduction in hardness among the fresh-cut produce during storage. Differences in the rate of quality change were observed according to the kinds and cut types of produce. Thus, a quality maintenance period for each type of fresh-cut produce must be determined, which will lead to the safe use of fresh cut produce in foodservice establishments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to assess the microbiological quality and potential health risk of fresh-cut produce and organic vegetables sampled from supermarkets and department stores in Korea. A total of 96 samples comprised three types of fresh-cut produce (sprouts, mixed-vegetables, fruit) and three types of organic vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaf, green pepper). The samples were analyzed for total viable cell counts, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. The microbiological counts of fruit were very low. Sprouts were highly contaminated by total viable cell counts ($8.3{\pm}0.57$ log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae ($7.1{\pm}0.76$ log CFU/g), and coliforms ($4.9{\pm}0.40$ log MPN/g), and showed a high incidence level of B. cereus ($2.9{\pm}0.48$ log CFU/g). Of the fresh-cut produce analyzed, six (13.6%) mixed-vegetable salads were E. coli positive. S. aureus was detected in only one sprout sample and one mixed-vegetable salad, and its contamination levels were under 2 log CFU/g, which is appropriate for Korean standards (<3 log CFU/g) of fresh-cut produce. Of the organic vegetables, lettuces were highly contaminated by total viable cell counts ($6.4{\pm}0.74$ log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae ($5.7{\pm}0.98$ log CFU/g), and coliforms ($3.7{\pm}1.72$ log MPN/g). Two (13.6%) organic lettuce and one (7.1%) perillar leaf sample were E. coli positive, and S. aureus was detected in one lettuce and two perilla leaf samples. Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in any of the fresh-cut produce or organic vegetables analyzed.

• The monthly packaging world
• /
• s.254
• /
• pp.50-61
• /
• 2014

• The monthly packaging world
• /
• s.281
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2016

• The monthly packaging world
• /
• s.341
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2021

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.622-628
• /
• 2007

Most fresh-cut agri-food products are less stable than unprocessed materials from which they are made. The objective of this study was the development of a quality control system for fresh-cut agri-food products. In this study, vitamin C, minerals, residual heavy metals, and pesticides of various fresh-cut agri-food products were analysed. Sensory evaluation revealed that overall acceptability scores were less than expected in most products since fresh-cut products are likely to cause browning and easily lose their freshness. Therefore, the postharvest technologies that can maintain the quality, freshness and appearance must be supplied. Although vitamin C and minerals are main nutrients that can be supplied from salads, the results showed that vitamin C and mineral contents were very small and extremely small compared with the values from the food composition tables. It is possible that vitamin C and most minerals that are easily destroyed were lost through minimal processes like peeling and cutting. In safety side, the remaining heavy metal contents of fresh-cut agri-food were investigated and the results showed that copper and lead existed in some products because only cadmium in agricultural produce is controlled by the minimum standard of heavy metal contents in Korea. No residual pesticides were detected in all products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.8
• /
• pp.1141-1149
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to analyze quality changes during storage of fresh-cut produce (leafy vegetables and condiment vegetables) as a function of packaging and storage temperature. Fresh-cut produce was washed using a three step cleaning process and was packed in vacuum packaging (green onion, hot pepper, onion, baechu) and perforated film packaging (buchu and perilla leaf). The effects of packaging method and storage temperature on quality of fresh-cut produce were determined by analyzing total plate counts, E. coli, coliform groups, moisture content, pH, Aw, surface color, and exterior quality during storage at 4 and 10$^{\circ}C$. According to the results, surface color change and microbial growth were delayed during storage at 4$^{\circ}C$. Additionally, E. coli was not detected during storage. Generally, moisture content decreased in the perforated film packaging. Changes in surface quality such as skin browning, softening of tissue and chlorosis at 4$^{\circ}C$ were inhibited, whereas rapid vacuum annealing and changes in color and flavor were observed in the sample stored at 10$^{\circ}C$. The result indicated that overall quality of the fresh-cut produce at 4$^{\circ}C$ was well maintained. The perforation in packing materials did not significantly increase the number of microorganisms on buchu and perilla leaf. The proper packaging methods and temperature may beneficial effect on microbial safety, quality and thus result in longer shelf-life fresh-cut vegetables during distribution.

• Food Industry And Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.17-27
• /
• 2008

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2022

Recently, the purchase of fresh-cut produce and meal kits has increased. Ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh-cut products have potentially hazard of cross-contamination of various microorganisms in the processes of peeling, slicing, dicing, and shredding. There are frequent cases of protozoa food poisoning, such as Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium, caused by fresh-cut products. The objective of the study is to investigate the microbiological qualities of various types of RTE fresh-cut products in the domestic on/offline markets. RTE fresh-cut fruits cup (n=100), fresh-cut vegetables (n=50), and vegetables in meal kits (Vietnamese spring rolls and white radish rolls kits, n=50) were seasonally analyzed. The contamination levels of hygienic indicator organisms, yeast and mold (YM), and foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7) were monitored. Overall, the lowest microbiological qualities of meal kits vegetables were observed, followed by RTE fresh-cut fruits cup and fresh-cut vegetables. Contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and YM in meal kits vegetables were 5.91, 3.90, and 4.71 logs CFU/g, respectively. From the qualitative analysis, 6 out of 200 RTE fresh-cut products (3%) returned positive result for S. aureus. From the quantitative analysis, the contamination levels of S. aureus in purple cabbage from a meal-kit and fresh-cut pineapple were below the acceptable limit (100 CFU/g). Staphylococcus enterotoxin seg and sei genes were detected in RTE fresh-cut celery and red cabbage from meal-kits, respectively. S. aureus contamination must be carefully controlled during the manufacturing processes of RTE fresh-cut products. Neither Cyclospora cayetanensis nor Cryptosporidium parvum was detected in the samples of RTE fresh-cut products and vegetables from meal-kits from the Korean retail markets.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1729-1738
• /
• 2020

Salmonellosis is a form of gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella infection. The main transmission route of salmonellosis has been identified as poorly cooked meat and poultry products contaminated with Salmonella. However, in recent years, the number of outbreaks attributed to contaminated raw produce has increased dramatically. To understand how Salmonella adapts to produce, transcriptomic analysis was conducted on Salmonella enterica serovar Virchow exposed to fresh-cut radish greens. Considering the different Salmonella lifestyles in contact with fresh produce, such as motile and sessile lifestyles, total RNA was extracted from planktonic and epiphytic cells separately. Transcriptomic analysis of S. Virchow cells revealed different transcription profiles between lifestyles. During bacterial adaptation to fresh-cut radish greens, planktonic cells were likely to shift toward anaerobic metabolism, exploiting nitrate as an electron acceptor of anaerobic respiration, and utilizing cobalamin as a cofactor for coupled metabolic pathways. Meanwhile, Salmonella cells adhering to plant surfaces showed coordinated upregulation in genes associated with translation and ribosomal biogenesis, indicating dramatic cellular reprogramming in response to environmental changes. In accordance with the extensive translational response, epiphytic cells showed an increase in the transcription of genes that are important for bacterial motility, nucleotide transporter/metabolism, cell envelope biogenesis, and defense mechanisms. Intriguingly, Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1 and SPI-2 displayed up- and downregulation, respectively, regardless of lifestyles in contact with the radish greens, suggesting altered Salmonella virulence during adaptation to plant environments. This study provides molecular insights into Salmonella adaptation to plants as an alternative environmental reservoir.