• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.799-808
• /
• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.12
• /
• pp.1895-1904
• /
• 2015

Foodborne illness associated with food service establishments is an important food safety issue in Korea. In this study, foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and hygiene indicator organisms [total viable cell counts (TVC), coliforms] were analyzed for food and environmental samples from foodservice establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of detected foodborne pathogens were also characterized. A total of 179 samples, including food (n=66), utensil (n=68), and environmental samples (n=45), were collected from eight food service establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Average contamination levels of TVC for foods (including raw materials) and environmental samples were 4.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g, respectively. Average contamination levels of coliforms were 2.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g for foods and environmental swab samples, respectively. B. cereus contamination was detected in food samples with an average of 2.1 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected only in raw materials, and S. aureus was positive in raw materials as well as environmental swab samples. Other foodborne pathogens were not detected in all samples. The entire B. cereus isolates possessed at least one of the diarrheal toxin genes (hblACD, nheABC, entFM, and cytK enterotoxin gene). However, ces gene encoding emetic toxin was not detected in B. cereus isolates. S. aureus isolates (n=16) contained at least one or more of the tested enterotoxin genes, except for tst gene. For E. coli and S. aureus, 92.7% and 37.5% of the isolates were susceptible against 16 and 19 antimicrobials, respectively. The analyzed microbial hazards could provide useful information for quantitative microbial risk assessment and food safety management system to control foodborne illness outbreaks in food service establishments.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.403-410
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to evaluate the microbiological contamination level of raw beef from retail markets in Seoul, Korea. The sampling and laboratory test were performed according to the procedure of "Standard for processing and ingredients specification of livestock product" and "Korean food code". Enterotoxin of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected using VIDAS$^{(R)}$ and PCR-based methods. Listeria monocytogenes serotyping and genotyping were carried out using Listeria antisera and L. monocytogenes Fingerprinting kit, respectively. A total of 48 samples were collected from 16 retail markets (butcher's shop: 5, department store: 6, supermarket: 5) in 2011. The level of total bacteria counts in the butcher's shop, department store and supermarket were $4.4{\times}10^3$ CFU/g, $3.9{\times}10^5$ CFU/g and $1.0{\times}10^4$ CFU/g, respectively. The concentrations of Escherichia coli of these three retail markets were $6.4{\times}10$ CFU/g, 7.6 CFU/g and $2.0{\times}10$ CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella species was not detected on all samples. However, S. aureus was isolated in the 3 samples (6.25%) from each type of three retail markets. L. monocytogenes was isolated in the 4 samples (8.3%) from department stores. The level of contamination of these foodborne bacteria was less than 100 CFU/g. The enterotoxin-encoding genes of S. aureus isolates were sea, seh, sei and sep gene. The gene similarity of L. monocytogenes isolated from two retail markets by Rep-PCR showed 57.8-98.1% and 68.1-98.1%, respectively. These results suggest that the HACCP guideline for environmental control in slaughterhouse and retail markets should be provided to prevent cross contamination and manage foodborne pathogens such as L. monocytogenes and S. aureus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.313-319
• /
• 2012

Consumer's preference and microbial inspections on fresh raw beef were carried out to understand the actual market status in Gwanju, Korea. Over 15 questions on questionnaire by 1,111 randomly selected respondents between April and May in 2011, results showed 65.5% positive on eating fresh raw beef, 63.8% negative on good hygiene condition of fresh raw beef, and 72.5% positive on the secure of the hygiene-safety for priority program, respectively. For microbial inspections, a total of 302 samples were collected from fresh raw beef purchased from slaughterhouse (n=122), transport (n=69) and consumer (n=81) stage, from lettuce (n=30) at consumer stage. The aerobic plate count (APC), E. coli count and food borne bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus(S.) aureus and E. coli O157:H7 were tested in the samples. As results, the level of count on APC of fresh raw beef ranged $6{\times}10^1{\sim}1.8{\times}10^5CFU/g$ from slaughterhouse, $2{\times}10^2{\sim}8.3{\times}10^5CFU/g$ from transport stage and $1{\times}10^2{\sim}4{\times}10^5CFU/g$ from consumer stage. The level of count on E. coli of fresh raw beef ranged $1{\sim}9{\times}10^1CFU/g$ from slaughterhouse, $1{\sim}7{\times}10CFU/g$ from transport stage and $1{\sim}5.5{\times}10CFU/g$ from consumer stage. In total, 26 S. aureus were isolated, 10 (14.5%) from fresh raw beef at transport stage, 12 (14.8%) from fresh raw beef and 4 (13.3%) from lettuce at consumer stage. Enterotoxin of S. aureus was not detected among 26 isolates. All S. aureus isolates were typed using a DiversiLab$^{TM}$ rep-PCR system for genetic similarity test, showing over 95% of genetic relationship amon isolates.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.137-141
• /
• 2008

To evaluate safety of commercial skate product, Korean traditional ready-to-eat raw-fish, during from June to August in 2006, microbial and chemical properties such as levels of total plate count, coliform, food-borne pathogens, VBN-value, pH and ammonium concentration in ready-to-eat skate product were evaluated. Total plate counts of ready-to-eat skate product were ranges from 4.8 to 7.5 log CFU/g, and coliform was detected in 1 sample (2.48 log CFU/g) among 18 samples. Staphylococcus aureus, was detected in 2 samples among 18 samples, but Escherichia coli, Salmonella, spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected. VBN-values and pH of skate were ranges from 12.6 to 593.9 mg% and from 6.7 to 9.4 depending on strength of fermentation, respectively. Ammonium concentrations of fermented skate were ranges from 4.4 to 14.1 mg/g and 2 samples, pre-fermented skate, were not detected.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to establish the critical limit of CCP (Critical Control Point) of a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system used in the production of seasoned laver products. The hazard analysis examined microbial evaluations and developed a HACCP management plan for the heating process. The results were determined to be capable of reducing the biological element of CCP via the secondary roasting process. This study examined general bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Bacillus cereus at temperatures ranging from $170^{\circ}C$ to $230^{\circ}C$ and for 3.0 to 5.5 seconds at a time. Before the secondary roasting process, pathogenic microorganisms were all negative, although the presence of general bacteria was still detected. General bacteria was reduced to $1.0{\times}10CFU/g$ after the temperature was set at $230^{\circ}C$ for a period of 5.5 seconds. In conclusion, it suggested that a HACCP plan was necessary for management standard and systematic approach in the establishment of critical limit, problem resolution, verification method, education, and records management through a secondary roasting process.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.170-176
• /
• 2020

We investigated the pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), microbial changes and dominant microbes in raw beef, wet-aging beef, and dry-aging beef after the meat had been stored in a refrigerator. The count of mesophilic bacteria was 3.3-3.9 log CFU/g in raw beef and dry-aging beef, and 5.4 log CFU/g in wet-aging meat. After 18 days of refrigeration, the mesophilic bacterial count in raw and aging beef increased to 6.1-6.4 log CFU/g. In wet-aging beef, the number of lactic acid bacteria increased from 4.5 log CFU/g to 6.0 log CFU/g at refrigeration temperature. However, lactic acid bacteria were not detected in dry aging beef. Major foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli (EHEC) were not detected. Based on the legal standard for mesophilic bacteria count, the estimated shelf-life of aged beef was less than 12 days and the average VBN was 15 mg%. The dominant microorganisms varied between the different types of meat. In raw meat, Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the dominant microorganism, and as the VBN increased, Carnobacterium divergens dominated. In wet-aging beef, Carnobacterium divergens dominated during the initial days of refrigeration after which the number of Lactobacillus sakei increased. Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis was initially the dominant microbe in dry-aging beef, after which Pseudomonas fragi dominated. In addition to the role of specific bacteria in the early stage of decay, it is thought that microorganisms can be utilized for safe distribution and storage of matured meats by conducting research on changes in rot, fragrance analysis, and changes of ingredients in matured meats.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2012

A total of 187 samples of leafy vegetables and fruits were acquired at traditional markets and department stores in Seoul, Korea. Samples were tested for microorganism distributions and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 2.5 and 9.4 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from the dropwort. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of the mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between 1.0 and 7.8 log CFU/g were found in 90.9% of the samples. Microbiological counts for fruits were very low. $Escherichia$ $coli$ was isolated in 24 (12.8%) samples. $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ and $Clostridium$ $perfringens$ contamination were found in 15 (8.0%) and 20 (10.7%) samples. $Salmonella$ species and $Listeria$ $monocytogenes$ were detected in 2.7 and 0.5% of samples, respectively. Among the total 187 samples, 8 samples were contaminated by more than two pathogens. $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 was not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels determined in the present study may be used as the primary data to execute microbial risk assessment of fresh vegetables and fruits.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.262-267
• /
• 2014

To analyze the presence of microbes in organic farm produce, green chillies, lettuce, tomatoes, apples, pears, and rice were collected at 47 production sites with organic and conventional produce. Total average bacterial counts of 4.07 log CFU/g in organic green chillies, 3.71 log CFU/g in conventional green chillies, and 6.76- 6.90 log CFU/g in the both lettuce were detected. Mean bacterial counts of 4.48 log CFU/g and 2.84 log CFU/g were detected in organic and conventional pear produce, respectively. Differences in bacterial counts in tomatoes, apples, and rice in organic and conventional produce were less pronounced. Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in any produce sample. However, Bacillus cereus was detected with average counts of 1.04 log CFU/g in 11/47 (23%) conventional produce samples and 1.97 log CFU/g in 6/47 (13%) organic produce samples. Therefore, organic and conventional produce showed similar microbial prevalence patterns, and comparable safety in terms of pathogen contamination.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.490-494
• /
• 2011

Although bacterial outbreaks from ready-to-eat foods have increased, little information is available on microbial quality of sprouts in markets. Fifty sprouts and 30 salads were collected from wholesale markets. Total aerobic count (TAC), coliform, Escherichia coli, and some pathogens were detected. TAC for sprouts was 7.95 log CFU/g and 6.70 for salads, indicating that sprouts were more contaminated by 1 log CFU/g than that of salads. The numbers of coliform were 6.69 log CFU/g for sprouts and 5.42 for salads. E. coli was detected in 16 of 50 sprout samples at 2.38 log CFU/g and eight of 30 salads at 2.21 log CFU/g. Bacillus cereus was detected in 29 of 50 sprout samples and 16 of 30 salads, and the counts were mostly <3 log CFU/g. Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, and Clostridium perfringens were not detected. Therefore, although pathogens may not be a high risk for these foods, the high TAC and E. coli contamination require improved production and distribution methods, particularly for sprouts.