• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to assess the sugars contents of home meal replacement (HMR) products currently sold in Korea. This study surveyed and examined the sugars contents in 835 popular HMRs (294 ready-to-eat foods; RTE, 499 ready-to-cook foods; RTC, 42 fresh-cut vegetables; FCV) through the nutrition labels. The average price, weight and energy content of 835 HMR products were 3,917.5 Korean won, 336.0 g, and 522.7 kcal, respectively. The sugars content per product was significantly higher in the RTCs (13.4 g) and RTEs (10.3 g) than that in the FCVs (4.2 g) (P<0.001), and the percentage of energy from sugars was 9.7% for the RTEs, 10.2% for the RTCs, and 8.7% for the FCVs without any significant difference. The sugars contents of 9 RTE types were in the order of side dishes (34.3 g), sunsik (22.5 g) and hamburgers (12.1 g) per package. The percentage of energy from sugars was highest in side dishes (28.1%), followed by kimchi (24.9%), sunsik (17.2%), and hamburgers (10.6%). Among 14 RTC types, the sugars contents were in the order of hot dogs (52.9 g), tteokbokki (30.4 g) and noodles (21.2 g) per package. The percentage of energy from sugars was the highest at 22.9% for sauces, followed by side dishes (17.3%), porridges (14.4%), instant stews (14.3%), and hot dogs (13.1%). Strategies and practices are needed to reduce the sugars contents of HMR producers and the sugars intakes of HMR consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.129-142
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• 2023

As the demand for ready-to-eat foods continues to grow, concerns about the sodium in processed foods are also growing. In this study, a survey was conducted on the perception of low-sodium products and diffusion plans according to the type of employee (manufacturer, retailer, distributor). Of the 191 responses collected, 189 valid responses (98.9%) were analyzed. The results showed that the employees were aware of the health contribution of a low-sodium diet, labeling for low-sodium, and the promotion of low-sodium food to increase its consumption. Furthermore, retailers recognized the positive contribution of low-sodium products in terms of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management. The use of sodium substitutes was preferred as the best way to reduce sodium in ready-to-eat foods. With regard to sodium reduction in ready-to-eat foods, we found that the technical factors involved were clustered by the type of business. Specifically, distributors showed a similar performance but had a lower perception of importance than retailers. Manufacturers had a lower perception of both importance and performance. In this study, we collected perceptions from employees who were working at food companies, which differed from previous research. We sought to examine the differences in the perception of sodium reduction and consumption of ready-to-eat foods across various types of employment. Furthermore, we provided specific approaches to reduce perception gaps and enhance understanding among employees.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.650-661
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the importance and satisfaction of consumer selective attributes by home meal replacement (HMR) types using local ingredients. This study was conducted from December 4 to December 8, 2020. A total of 380 responses organized according to preferred types of HMR (100 for Ready to Eat (RTE), 92 for Ready to Heat (RTH), 88 for Ready to Cook (RTC), 100 for Ready to Prepared (RTP) were used for the final analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by descriptive analysis, paired t-test, and importance-satisfaction analysis by HMR type. Findings of this study showed significant differences in consumer selective attributes by HMR type. RTE and RTC need to improve quality while RTH needs to improve quality and packaging. Notable selective attributes were quality, packaging, and information. They were located in different quadrants of each HMR type. All other attributes appeared in the same quadrant. Further research is needed to determine differences in quality, packaging, and information for each HMR type. Results of this study provide basic data for developing products and marketing strategies for each type of HMR products using local ingredients.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2013

This study was performed to determine the ranking foods and related foodborne pathogens for the impact of climate change, e.g., increasing temperature, on microbiological food safety. To do this, we developed an impact-ranking model comprising an Excel spreadsheet by using Risk Ranger. Because of a lack of data, input values in this model were determined on the basis of an expert's opinion. These values also were converted to normal distribution, and the developed model was simulated using @RISK. In conclusion, the 5 superior ranking foods and related foodborne pathogens for climate change impact were as follows: ready-to-eat foods (RTE) (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7); bread and rice cakes (S. aureus and Bacillus cereus); meat and egg products (Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, and S. aureus); tofu (bean curds) and jellies (B. cereus, E. coli O157:H7, and S. aureus); and fish products (S. aureus, Vibrio spp., and E. coli O157:H7).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

This study was carried out to examine microbiological contamination of ready-to-eat products and to propose a draft-standard and specifications according to food types. RTE foods were classified into 6 groups including fish products, meat products, breads, rices, salads, and fresh cut foods. The prevalence rates of pathogens detected from all samples were compared among food categories. The pH ranges for all RTE samples were between 3.8 and 7.3. Total aerobic cell counts ranged from 2 to 6 log CFU/g. Bread, rice and fresh-cut foods showed significantly higher counts, which ranged above 4.0 log CFU/g among the samples. Two kinds of rice were above the level of the KFDA Food Code standard for Eschrichia coli. The prevalence rate of E. coli in the rice was 6.7%. For Staphylococcus aureus, one fish product and one bread-product had levels above 2 log CFU/g. Bacillus cereus counts for all samples were below the level of 3 log CFU/g. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in the samples. Therefore, these data suggest that the primary microbial hazard factors for ready-to-eat foods and risk assessments should focus on E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.603-612
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• 2014

According to the microbiological standard, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes should not be detected in milk and egg products in Korea. Refrigerated food such as milk must be kept under $10^{\circ}C$ at retail markets. However, temperature abuse of refrigerated foods at such markets is often observed. We compared the growth and survival kinetics of S. aureus and C. perfringens at 10 and $15^{\circ}C$, and the growth kinetics of L. monocytogenes at 4 and $10^{\circ}C$ in whole and skim milk and ready-to-eat (RTE) quail eggs to evaluate their growth possibilities at retail markets. Regardless of storage temperature, the level of S. aureus reached the maximum level ($10^8-10^9CFU/ml$) in whole milk, non-fat milk and RTE quail eggs within the expiration date. Even low contamination levels of S. aureus (10 CFU/mL) grew rapidly in milk and quail eggs to reach the maximum level within the shelf life. Survival of C. perfringens in whole milk was greater than that in non-fat milk, indicating that the fat content in milk influences the survival of C. perfringens. For L. monocytogenes, the population in milk increased by 0.5-1 log CFU/mL at $4^{\circ}C$, while the populations reached the maximum level at $10^{\circ}C$ within the expiration date, regardless of initial contamination levels. In quail eggs, L. monocytogenes grew to the maximum level within the expiration date (60 days) at both temperatures. S. aureus and L. monocytogenes must be controlled to be negative, and proper temperature management should be emphasized at retail markets to protect the consumer. Since C. perfringens did not grow in milk and RTE quail eggs, there is no risk due to the growth of C. perfringens in these products at retail markets.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.348-354
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• 2017

Internationally different food safety regulation and standards could cause troubles in trade unless those are built on scientific knowledge. In this research, we monitored the microbial population and analyzed the results to determine the level of microbial contamination in foodstuffs using relatively new statistical analysis (microbiological sampling plan, International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Foods). The goal of this research falls on establishing entirely new standards for various food categories addressed in the Korean "Food Code". Targets for monitoring were indicator organisms (i.e. total aerobic count, coliform and Escherichia coli) and foodborne pathogens (i.e. Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens) in ready-to-eat (RTE) products. As the result of the monitoring, total aerobic count, coliform, E. coli, and B. cereus in RTE products were found at the mean values of 2.10 log CFU/g, -0.60 log CFU/g, -1.33 log CFU/g and -1.23 log CFU/g, respectively. S. aureus was detected with the level of -1.35 log CFU/g only in fresh-cut food, while C. perfringens was -1.37 log CFU/g only in ready-to-cook food. Other samples did not have any food borne pathogens. Total aerobic count, B. cereus, S. aureus and C. perfringens satisfied the Food Code (the MFDS). On the basis of the analysis, we proposed a draft of microbial criteria for RTE products.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the need to develop foods for the elderly based on their food preferences. A one-to-one survey method was used for data collection, and the survey was conducted on 165 elderly people (male: 47, female: 118) attending senior welfare centers in Seoul. The results of this study show that the preferred cooking method was steaming rather than stir-frying. Vegetables (4.24), fruits (4.22), Kimchi (3.87), fish (3.83), tofu (3.81), rice-cakes (3.65), dairy products/eggs (3.47), meat (3.45), noodles (3.44), seafood (3.44), poultry (3.23), bread/cookies (3.10) showed high preferences in order (p<0.05). The respondent's chewing & swallowing degree were "Not uncomfortable chew" 31.5%, "Hard food, and a big food is a little difficult to intake". 37%, "Hard food, and a big food is difficult to intake" 11.5%, "Small food, and soft foods can intake" 11.5%, and "It is difficult to intake solid food" 1.2%. Foods that were difficult to chew were meat 28.3%, seafood 15.2%, vegetables 15.2%, nuts 14.1%, fruits 12.0%, Kimchi 8.7%, and other 6.5%. For respondents, the most important factors affecting choice of elderly foods were flavor (48.5%), hygiene (43.0%), and nutrition (36.4%). The elderly wanted "Ready to eat (RTE)" 53.9%, "Ready to heat (RTH)" 15.8%, "Ready to cook (RTC)" 21.2%, and 'Fresh cut product" 9.1%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2017

This study analyzed changes in nutrient contents of children's favorite foods between March 2010 and July 2012 after policy implementation on energy-dense and nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods based on Special Act on Safety Control of Children's Dietary Life in Korea. A total of 6,684 products in the list of children's favorite foods by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in March 2010 and 7,347 products in July 2012 were classified into the following three types: food products (1) manufactured or sold in 2012 as well as 2010 (n=6,174), (2) discontinued in 2012 (n=510), and (3) newly introduced in 2012 (n=1,173). Among children's favorite foods manufactured or sold in 2012 as well as 2010 (n=6,174), calories and key nutrients in sweetened ices, breads, ice creams, deep-fried noodles/noodles, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, and pizzas were improved in comparison to those in the other food groups. However, most of the changes in calories or key nutrient contents per 100 g (or 100 mL) fell below 1 kcal or 1 g. The newly introduced candies, breads, and carbonated beverages showed slightly greater improvements in calories and key nutrient contents per 100 g (or 100 mL) than the discontinued ones in 2012. On the other hand, some negative changes were found in newly introduced chocolates and RTE foods in comparison to the discontinued ones. Overall, policy implementation on EDNP foods seemed to induce changes in nutrient contents of children's favorite foods, yet the extent of the changes was limited.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2015

Heating patterns depending on the packaging materials were examined in order to investigate the causes of thermal deformation of packages used for ready-to-eat foods for microwave heating due to the non-uniformity of microwaves. Physical properties including tensile strength, heat-resistance and elongation of four different CPP grades were compared. High retortable CPP had higher sealing strength and heat resistance compared to the conventional CPPs. All CPP samples tested were proved to have melting temperatures around $160^{\circ}C$. However, they were all thermally deformed by microwave heating due to a limited penetration of microwave and non-uniform heating within the spicy sauce of high viscosity contained high salt, especially on the above the filling line and sealing edge of pouches. When the laminated stand-up pouches composed of G-PET/PET/PET/CPP and G-PET/PET/NY/CPP were retorted and microwaved, significant deformations were noticed in both samples after retorting. Besides, pouches contained titanium dioxide showed more intense thermal deformation than the control. When the $10{\mu}m$ aluminium foil was affixed on the pouch, small thermal deformation was observed only in the bottom layer. More studies are required to prevent the thermal deformation of packaging materials used for RTE foods during microwave heating by developing the technologies to increase the thermal stability of CPP layer and the modification of packaging design to modify the microwave access into the package.