• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.152-157
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• 2006

Enterobacter sakazakii, designated as an unique microbial species in 1980, may cause bacteremia, necrotizing enterocolitis and infant meningitis. The distribution and the thermostability of E. sakazakii in unprocessed ready-to-eat (RTE) agricultural products of 252 and in 25 powdered infant formulas (PIF) were analyzed. Eighty one, 50, 43, and 47% of brown rice, pumpkin, potato, and carrot samples, respectively, had aerobic plate counts (ARC) in the range of 5 log CFU/g or more. Almost all the other products sampled had APC of approximately 2 log CFU/g. Fifty three, 75, 67, and 68% of banana, pumpkin, soybean, and carrot had Enterobacteriaceae counts approximating 3 log CFU/g. Sixty six percent of the brown rice tested had Enterobacteriaceae counts approximating 5-6 log CFU/g. E. sakazakii was isolated from 3/25(12%), 4/23(17%), 1/24(4%), and 1/27(4%) of PIF, brown rice, laver, and tomato samples, respectively. D-values were 3.52-4.79 min at 60 and $D_{60}-values$ were similar as the isolates reported. Thermal inactivation of four thermovariant E. sakazakii strains during the rehydration of PIF with hot water were investigated. At $50^{\circ}C$, the levels of E. sakazakii decreased one log CFU/g for 4-6 min and thereafter the levels remained stable for 20 min. At $60^{\circ}C$, inactivation by about 2 log CFU/g occurred for 20 min. Therefore, the unprocessed agricultural products might be a source of contamination for PIF when used as an ingredient after drying and pulverization. Rehydration of PIF for infant feeding with a water temperature of $60^{\circ}C$ rather than $50^{\circ}C$, as recommended by the manufacturers, may be helpful in the reduction of potential E. sakazakii risk.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.494-501
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of pre-cooking conditions on the quality characteristics of ready-to-eat (RTE) Samgyetang. Raw chickens were steamed under the different conditions of 50℃/30 min (T1), 65℃/30 min (T2), 85℃/30 min (T3), and 90℃/10 min (T4) prior to retorting at 120℃ for 65 min. The results showed that pre-cooking conditions in all treated samples could reduce fat contents in breast and leg meats by 8.5-11.7％ and 10.0-11.0％ compared to the control, even though there were no significant differences among treatments (p>0.05). The L* and b* values of breast and leg meats treated with the higher temperature and longer time conditions were significantly higher than the control (p<0.05), while a* values tended to decrease despite of not to a significant extent (p>0.05). Moreover, apparent viscosity and water soluble protein showed insignificant differences (p>0.05) among the samples as a result of the retorting process, which might have more negative influences on the quality. T2 samples obtained significantly the highest average Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) score and transmittance value, representing the most clear broth among the samples, compared to the control. On the other hand, T3 showed the highest cooking loss among the treatments and the lowest QDA scores among the samples. In conclusion, pre-cooking treatment prior to retorting in manufacturing Samgyetang is a plausible way to reduce its fat content. A pre-cooking condition at either 65℃ for 30 min, or 90℃ for 10 min are recommended for producing Samgyetang with optimum quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.938-943
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• 2007

This study investigated the hazard analysis of ready-to-eat sandwiches sold in various establishments. Sandwich samples were collected from convenience stores, discount stores, sandwich chain stores, bakery shops, fast-food chain stores, and food service operations located in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Out of 174 samples, 18 (10.3%) contained coagulase positive staphylococci with counts ranging from 0.30 to 4.08 log CFU/g. There was significant seasonal difference in Staphylococcus aureus isolation; the average count in summer (3.24 log CFU/g) was 3 times higher than that of winter (1.10 log CFU/g) (P<0.001). According to the microbiological guidelines of PHLS for ready-to-eat foods, 95.4% of the samples were acceptable. As a result of enterotoxin producing experimental data ($35^{\circ}C$, pH 5.8, NaCl 0.5%), enterotoxin was not produced in a sandwich until Staphylococcus aureus increased to a level greater than 4.95 log CFU/g. This microbiological hazard analysis data could be applied to future studies on quantitative risk assessment of ready-to-eat foods.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1047-1057
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences is food consumption behavior based on singles' food-related lifestyle. A survey was conducted with singles(age 25~54) in the Seoul metropolitan area. Out of 2,051 questionnaires distributed, 300 were analyzed(15.21% response rate). The data was analyzed using SPSS windows(ver. 17.0). Singles' food-related lifestyles were categorized into three groups. In addition, the respondents were divided into three groups by cluster analysis: convenience oriented group, wellbeing dining-out oriented group, and uninvolved group. The food consumption behavior of each group was significantly different in terms of considerations of food consumption, preference of food product types, and breakfast types. The convenience oriented group prefered to buy ready to cook food, ready to heat food and ready to eat food. Moreover, they often eat instant food. The wellbeing dining-out group is more interested in foods and their health than other groups. The uninvolved group was not concerned about food. This study suggests that the food industry the characteristics of singles' needs to be analyzed more systematically. By analyzing the characteristics of singles', the food industry can use the data to establish a marketing strategy for them.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.673-679
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• 2009

To develop ready-to-eat (RTE) style Korean traditional Galbi-jjim, the optimal conditions for sous-vide cooking and cookchill preparation and the sensory properties of the cooked products were investigated. During heating, the meat core temperatures reached $85^{\circ}C$ within 30 min and 45 min when a water bath and combination oven were used, respectively. Chilling to $3^{\circ}C$ within 45 min was conducted to meet the standards for microbiological safety set by the UK Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) Guideline. Galbi-jjim that was vacuum-cooked in a water bath was much more tender than that of Galbi-jjim prepared using the cook-chill method, but had no difference in any reheating methods. The average sensory scores of juiciness and the overall acceptance of Galbi-jjim were significantly higher when water bath cooking was used, and there were no differences in reheating methods. In conclusion, the serial methods of sous-vide processing and rapid chilling can be applied to produce RTE traditional Galbi-jjim, and this can be conducted while meeting the standards specified in safety guidelines.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.559-567
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• 2012

The storage quality of ready-to-eat Campbell table grapes which were packaged under modified atmospheres was investigated in order to examine the effect of high $O_2$ and $CO_2$ on the fruit. Fresh table grapes with 10-15 berries were packed into polypropylene (PP) trays and were top-sealed with polythylene terephthalate/PP film. The initial gas compositions inside the packages were air, 20% $O_2$/10% $CO_2$/70% $N_2$, and 40% $O_2$/60% $N_2$. Sealed packages with low density polyethylene film bags and perforated PP trays were also used as a further treatment and control, respectively. The quality attributes were assessed during storage at $5^{\circ}C$ for 28 days. Fruit packaged in high $CO_2$ concentration showed the lowest viable cell counts of inherent microorganisms among all samples, although they suffered from severe off-flavors. High levels of $O_2$ significantly lowered flesh weight loss and maintained the flavor of grape. In an overall sensory aspect, the high $O_2$ and $CO_2$ packages exhibited greater scores than the air and control at the end of the storage period. Other quality attributes showed no significant differences among treatments. Results suggest that packaging with an appropriate combination of high $O_2$ and $CO_2$ can be used as an effective processing treatment for improvement of the storability of ready-to-eat table grapes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.683-691
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• 2014

The effects of sucrose stearate at various concentrations (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%, w/v) on the physico-chemical characteristics of ready-to-eat (RTE) Samgyetang were investigated during storage at $25^{\circ}C$ for 12 mon. Over the storage duration, the addition of sucrose stearate had no significant effects on the proximate composition of Samgyetang, including meat, broth, and porridge, or the hardness and spreadability of the porridge, although it resulted in significantly higher CIE $L^*$ values for the porridge. The CIE $L^*$ values of Samgyetang porridge with added sucrose stearate increased until 9 mon, while the control decreased until 6 mon, and the values for both changed insignificantly thereafter. The breast meat of Samgyetang treated with sucrose stearate showed higher percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acid after 3 mon and lower percentages of monounsaturated fatty acid after 6 mon compared to the control (p<0.05), while no significant differences were observed with the different sucrose stearate concentrations (p>0.05). The overall sensory acceptability scores were higher at sucrose stearate concentrations of 0.2% or 0.3% after 6 mon and at 0.1% after 9 mon compared to those of the control.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.621-625
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• 2007

Staphylococcus aureus in Korean kimbab rolls was monitored seasonally in 4 major cities of Korea to investigate the risk of S. aureus in a pre-prepared meal. Thirty-five (28.6%) of 105 kimbab rolls purchased in winter were contaminated with S. aureus with an average level of 2.6 log CFU/g. Thirty-six (33.0%) of 109 kimbab rolls purchased in summer and autumn were contained S. aureus with an average level of 2.9 log CFU/g. Kimbab purchased in snack bars showed higher S. aureus contamination rates with the maximum level of 4.7 log CFU/g than that purchased in convenience stores. Of the raw materials in kimbab, uncooked perilla leaf had the highest contamination rate of S. aureus. Less than 50% of S. aureus isolated from kimbab produced enterotoxin and most of the staphylococcal enterotoxin produced by S. aureus in kimbab was type A.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2020

B. cereus-produced cereulide as an emetic toxin is commonly isolated in starch-based cooked foods. This study examined the prevalence of B. cereus from ready-to-eat foods in markets by polymerase chain reaction analysis and determined the relationship between the level of B. cereus and the quantity of cereulide in the sample after different storage times and temperatures. The prevalence of general B. cereus in 43 starch foods was 32.6%, and the level of B. cereus ranged from 0.5 to 1.95 log cfu/g, meeting the Korea Food Code Specifications of 3 log CFU/g of B. cereus. No samples revealed emetic B. cereus. Fried rice samples were inoculated with a cereulide-producing reference strain, B. cereus NCCP 14796, to determine the level of B. cereus and the quantity of cereulide in the samples after storage for 0, 4, 6, 8, 20, 24, 30, 48, 72, and 96 h at 7, 25, 35, and 57℃. The average levels of B. cereus at 7, 25, 35, and 57℃ were 4.38, 7.31, 7.88, and 3.82 log cfu/g, and the levels of cereulide were 150.41, 1680.70, 2652.65, and 77.83 ㎍/mL, respectively, showing a significant difference according to the incubation time (P<0.05) and temperature (P<0.001).

• Agribusiness and Information Management
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

HMR is a home-style food product designed for convenience and cooked outside the home leaving out cumbersome cooking process and consumed at home. The present paper aims to find out factors that influence the consumption of HMR by analyzing data on food consumption during the 3 years between December 2010 and November 2013. Following the classification of Costa et al. (2001), this study categorized HMR products as 3 types as follows: C1 (ready to eat), C2 (ready to heat) and C3 (ready to cook), and examined factors affecting purchase rate and per capita purchase price for each type of HMR product. The results of our analysis show that only the purchase rate of C3 products was influenced by whether the purchaser was housewife with job or not. For those who do not live together with parents, per capita purchase price for HMR was high; and the more they ate out, the higher the purchase rate of HMR was.