• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.435-449
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cheonggukjang is a traditional fermented soybean paste with significant health-promoting effects. On the other hand, there have been insufficient studies on the safety and efficacy of Cheonggukjang, which is produced using traditional methods containing toxins and biogenic amines (BAs). This study compared the laxative effect of Cheonggukjang, containing high or low levels of toxins and BAs (HTBC or LTBC) in a loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: To induce constipation, Lop (5 mg/kg) was administered orally to ICR mice twice a day for 4 days, and the dose was increased to 8 mg/kg after a 3-day rest period. Cheonggukjang (500 mg/kg, HTBC, or LTBC respectively) was administered for four weeks before the Lop treatment. RESULTS: The number of stools, fecal weight, water contents, gastrointestinal transit, and histological alterations were recovered significantly in the HTBC or LTBC groups. HTBC and LTBC administration did not induce significant changes in body weight, dietary intake, and behavior. The opioid-receptor downstream signaling pathway in colon tissues was also evaluated. The c-Kit, stem cell kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinases subfamilies, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinases, and p38, were all downregulated in the HTBC or LTBC-administered mice colon compared to the Lop group. CONCLUSION: These results show that Cheonggukjang, containing high levels of toxins and BAs, have a similar laxative effect in a mouse model of Lop-induced constipation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2024

In this study, the food service management levels of cafeterias in childcare facilities were investigated based on the number of meal recipients and the working status of the kitchen staff. The study included 199 childcare facilities nationwide that received food supplies from the food ingredients distribution company, Pulmuone Foodmerce, from 2021 to 2022. The assessment was conducted using 61 inspection items. The analysis revealed that, as the number of meal recipients and kitchen staff members decreased, the documentation of inspection results was less likely to be conducted (P<0.05). Facilities with fewer meal recipients showed less adequate health status checks for kitchen staff, and those with fewer kitchen staff showed insufficient compliance with hygienic clothing (P<0.05). Additionally, facilities with fewer meal recipients showed a higher frequency of lapses in checking the expiration dates of stored ingredients (P<0.05), requiring increased management attention. They also exhibited the absence of internal temperature measurement records during heating processes (P<0.05). Furthermore, facilities with fewer meal recipients demonstrated inadequate maintenance of kitchen facilities (P<0.05). Significantly higher adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were detected on the hands and cutting boards of the kitchen staff in facilities with fewer meal recipients and fewer kitchen staff (P>0.05). Overall, facilities with fewer meal recipients exhibited insufficient infrastructure management for kitchen operations and inadequate hygiene management. These results are expected to provide foundational data for the selection of national support programs for childcare facilities in the future.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2024

This study investigated the microbial contamination of agricultural, livestock, and marine ingredients in 55 meal kits distributed across Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Of the 55 meal kits, 48 contained agricultural ingredients, 43 contained livestock ingredients, and 16 contained marine ingredients. The detection rate of the total aerobic bacteria in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products was 100%. The average numbers of the total aerobic bacteria were 6.57 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g in the agricultural products, 4.60 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 5.47 log CFU/g in the marine products. The coliform detection rates in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 81.25%, 69.77%, and 43.75%, respectively. The average numbers of coliforms were 2.83 log CFU/g in the agricultural products, 1.34 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 1.12 log CFU/g in the marine products. Escherichia coli was detected in 13 livestock products (30.23%), with levels ranging from 0.70 to 2.36 log CFU/g. Contrastingly, E. coli was detected in only one marine product (6.25%) and was not detected in any agricultural products. The detection rates of fungi in agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 97.92%, 93.02%, and 93.75%, respectively. The average numbers of fungi were 3.82 log CFU/g for the agricultural products, 2.92 log CFU/g for the livestock products, and 2.82 log CFU/g for the marine products. The isolation rates of foodborne pathogens from the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 35.42%, 37.21%, and 31.25%, respectively. Forty-five foodborne pathogens of seven species, including Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp., were isolated from the raw materials of the agricultural, livestock, and marine products in 55 meal kits. To prevent foodborne diseases caused by meal kits, it is necessary to focus on washing, heating, and preventing cross-contamination during cooking.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

Objectives: Microcystin (MC) produced during cyanobacterial blooms is a worldwide problem presenting a serious health threats to humans and ecosystems. During July through October of 2013, the Ilwol Reservoir experienced a high biomass of phytoplankton (maximum $211.7mg/m^3$ of Chlorophyll-a) containing the toxigenic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. The aim of this study is to analyze MC concentration in the reservoir water, as well as in representative fish species (Carassius cuvieri, Carassius auratus, Channa argus). We also evaluated the human health risk of exposure to MCs accumulated in the fish. Methods: Concentrations of MCs in the water and fish samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The total levels of four MC variants, including MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR and MC-LA were below the WHO drinking water guideline limit (1 ug MC-LR per liter) both for the dissolved and particulate fraction present in the water samples. The mean MC concentrations in the livers of all species were significantly higher than in the gills (p < 0.01) and muscles (p < 0.05). The values of estimated daily intake of MCs in muscles, the edible part of the fish, would be only $0.005-0.015{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$, much lower than WHO's provisional tolerable daily intake of $0.04{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$. Conclusion: This study suggests that, owing to the spatial distribution or temporal variation of MC, there is a need for careful monitoring of cyanotoxin in reservoir water and aquatic animals to protect public health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2013

The following study was presented to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of peel extracts (PE) from three citrus fruits: Citrus unshiu, Citrus limonia Osbeck and Citrus hallabong. According to this study, cytotoxicity, NO-production and protein levels of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) in macrophage cell were analyzed, which had been incubated in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cell of PE from those three citrus fruits. According to Citrus unshiu peel extracts (CUP), Citrus limonia Osbeck peel extracts (CHP) and Citrus hallabong peel extracts (CLP) treatment, the result showed that there was no cell growth inhibited below 2 mg/mL. Comparing the NO-production of the cell with LPS (100 ng/mL) and the treatment without LPS, significant increase of NO-production was detected. However NO-production also showed decrease trend, as the concentration increased. For each treatment, at the concentration of 1 mg/mL, NO-ihibitory activity showed significant result with following order: CUP > CHP > CLP. According to the result from Western blot, the inhibitory activities of iNOS protein from CUP and CHP showed fairly similar performances. Also inhibitory activity of COX-2 showed the following order: CUP > CHP> CLP. There was no doubt that all the treatments of CUP, CHP and CLP have anti-inflammatory effect and also that the inhibitory activity of the CUP treatment was the strongest among those three.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2024

Red ginseng is manufactured as a health-functional food and is also present in various food types and in different product forms. However, there is currently no standardized regulation of ginsenoside content in foods containing red ginseng. In the present study, we analyzed the ginsenoside content of 66 red ginseng-containing foods and 35 health-functional foods collected online and directly from the market. The ginsenoside content was assessed using liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods. The ginsenoside content of the various food types ranged 0.0 (not detected)-71.567 mg per daily intake of foods containing red ginseng. Sugar-preserved foods had the highest ginsenoside content, followed by solid teas, liquid teas, and red ginseng beverages. For health-functional foods, the ginsenoside content ranged 3.4-58.5 mg per daily intake, with levels ranging 83-607% of the indicated amounts. All values met the established standards. Upon comparing red ginseng health-functional foods and red ginseng-containing foods, the average ginsenoside content was determined to be 18.21 and 8.79 mg, respectively, thus being nearly twice as high in health-functional foods. However, there was a minimal difference between the ginsenoside content of red and black ginseng, with values of 11.84 and 12.63 mg, respectively. These findings provide insights on the variations in ginsenoside content of red and black ginseng in various food forms. This information is expected to be valuable for future regulations and consumer choice of products containing red ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2016

March 11, 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident has occurred, the last four years, his is the current state of anxiety remains on the consumer. Therefore, 2015 the current progress continues to have continued research for the purpose of resolving the insecurity of fishery in the country. We measured the radiation of the origin of fishery products, by 2015, research was carried out through a number of references to get additional data or studies that influence this to some degree. Create a consumer and one for the seller for the survey to find out the thoughts of both consumers and sellers on fisheries was to create the statistics by direct survey in 2014 year survey meter using PM1405 equipment dynamics of several species of aquatic origin in accordance with the (Taiwan, China, Russia), mackerel, pomfret, hairtail, saury, shrimp, squid measurements of radiation were investigated. The measurement in 2014 was $0.043{\sim}0.073{\mu}Sv/h$. The seller influenced the survey (90%) on fishery products sales, consumer safety, without this fishery (90%), radioactive contamination very high (28%) and the polarization was not as nearly 72%. The study of the stability of the radiation determined by the radiation levels of the aquatic marine products in a comparison the radiation levels result was determined in ICRP below the standard value (1 mSv/y).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.132-136
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to measure the levels of eluted and dissolved CO2, and CO, volatile organic substances and radiation composition of Cheongsong mineral water which were collected from November 2019 to July 2020 during the autumn, spring, and summer seasons at collection points located in the upper, middle and lower spring waters. Data of the upper, middle and lower spring waters include the following: the amount of eluted water (average value±standard deviation, mL/min) was 30.07±0.52, 15.03±0.16, 23.73±0.42, and the amount of CO2 gas was 1,000 ppm or more. In addition, there was no detection of CO or total volatile organic substances (TVOC) and the radiation dose was 0.08 to 0.13. μSv/h. A blank test value of 0.08 to 0.10 μSv/h, when compared with the median value, showed a high value of 0.02 μSv/h, and the uranium test results provided by the Cheongsong-gun Office were 0.0118 mg/L (date 2019.06.18) and 0.0091 mg/L (date 2020.06.04.) respectively, which was less than the permission limit of 0.03 mg/L. However, it is believed that further research using more precise devices is needed in order to guarantee the safety and health of the water.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2023

The total arsenic and 6 arsenic species were investigated in 56 fish collagen products using ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer) and HPLC-ICP-MS(High performance liquid chromatography-Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer). The mean concentrations of total arsenic and arsenic species were 40.103±81.133 ㎍/kg (N.D.~586.686) and 30.070±50.378 ㎍/kg (N.D.~313.871), respectively. The mean concentration of inorganic arsenic was 24.610±32.706 ㎍/kg (N.D.~129.331), and the As(V) (Arsenate) was the most dominant. The standards and specifications of arsenic have not been established for fish collagen products. Our study presents that arsenic levels are relatively safe compared with not only previous studies but also domestic and international standards. However, in one sample, the total arsenic concentration was 586.686 ㎍/kg, showing the inorganic was 8.119 ㎍/kg, and the DMA was 305.752 ㎍/kg, which was high than the Canadian standard for organic arsenic. In conclusion, it is necessary to monitor arsenic levels consistently and establish standards and specifications of arsenic in fish collagen products to assure consumer safety.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2016

Malachite green was measured in 200 freshwater fish collected from local markets in Seoul using HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS. LC-MS/MS method was validated by linearity, accuracy, precision and limits of detection and quantification according to the CODEX's recommendation and HPLC-DAD method was applied according to the Food Code. Malachite green levels above the quantification limit of the LC-MS/MS were determined 18.5% (37) but just 1 fish was shown to contain malachite green by HPLC-DAD. Of 83 domestic fish, 21 fish were detected malachite green (25.3%). Of 117 fish from China, just 16 fish were detected malachite green (13.4%). In detection rate by species carp (35.0%), Crucian carp (30.4%), cat fish (28.0%), Korean bull head (23.8%), snake head (20.0%), eel (10.5%) and loach (7.8%) were in order. Especially, fish collected at summer were shown to contain malachite green frequently; the detection rate was 54.8%.