• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.615-620
• /
• 2007

Commercially packed kimchi products from 6 different manufacturers, which are exported overseas as well as sold domestically, were analyzed to determine their microorganism distributions and presence of pathogenic bacteria. All samples showed decreasing pH levels (from 5.7-6.2 to 3.9-4.3) and increasing titratable acidities (from 0.3-0.4 to 0.8-1.2%) during 15 days of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. Total bacterial counts ranged from $2.1{\times}10^5-1.9{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ in the initial kimchi samples, and then increased to $1.1{\times}10^8-1.8{\times}10^9\;CFU/mL$. The coliform numbers decreased from approximately $2.5{\times}10^2-1.7{\times}10^4\;CFU/mL$ to zero. Major foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Shigella spp. were not detected in any of the samples. However, 2 out of the 6 samples carried E. coli, emphasizing the need for improved hygiene practice. Interestingly, Hafnia alvei, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, was isolated in all of the samples. Further study is needed on this newly reported bacterium in kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.1 s.106
• /
• pp.112-121
• /
• 2004

A study was performed to examine the effects of UV-disinfected reclaimed water on microorganism concentration during rice culture. Four treatments were used and each one was triplicated to evaluate the changes of microorganism concentrations: stream water irrigation (STR), biofilter effluent irrigation (BE), UV-disinfected water irrigation with dose of 6 mW ${\cdot}$ s $cm{-2}$ (UV-6), and UV-disinfected water irrigation with dose of 16 mW ${\cdot}$ s $cm{-2}$ (UV-16). The indicator microorganisms of interest were total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), and E. coli. The biofilter effluent from 16-unit apartment sewage treatment plant was used as reclaimed water and flowthrough type UV-disinfection system was used. Concentrations of indicator microorganisms in the treatment plots ranged from $10^2$ to $10^5$ MPN/100 mL during 24 hours after irrigation in May and June, where initial irrigation water for transplanting reparation was biofilter-effluent without UV-disinfection. It implies that initial irrigation using only non-disinfected reclaimed water for puddling in paddy field can be health-concerned because of more chance of farmer's physical contact with elevated concentration of microorganisms. The concentrations of microorganisms varied widely with rainfall, and treatments using UV-disinfected water irrigation showed significantly lower concentrations than others and their levels were within the range of paddy rice field with normal surface water irrigation. The mean concentrations of STR and BE during growing season were in the range of 4 ${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for TC, and 2${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for FC and E, Coli, While mean concentrations of UV-S and UV-lS were less than 1${\times}\;10^3$ MPN/100 mL for all the indicator microorganisms. Overall, UV-disinfection was thought to be feasible and practical alternative for agricultural reuse of secondary level effluent in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.104-110
• /
• 2013

This study assessed hazards at the harvest stage of strawberry farms which may cause risk to humans. A total of 216 samples were collected from 6 strawberry farms (soil culture farms: A, B, C; nutriculture farms: D, E, F) located in Western Gyeongnam. The collected samples were subjected for sanitary indicator bacteria (aerobic plate count, coliforms and Escherichia coli), major foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), and fungi. The levels of APC and coliform in the soil culture farms were 1.0-6.9 and 0.4-4.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$), respectively. The samples obtained from the nutriculture farms were contaminated with the levels of 0.8-4.9, and 0.2-2.6 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) of APC and coliform. However, E. coli was not detected in any samples. In major foodborne pathogens, S. aureus was detected at the level of ${\leq}$3.3 log CFU/hand in workers' hand samples and B. cereus was detected at the levels of 0.4-4.1 log CFU/g (hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil, plants and workers' hygiene. L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Fungi were detected at the levels of 1.0-5.2 and 0.2-4.4 log CFU/g (leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$) in soil culture and nutriculture farms, respectively.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.341-345
• /
• 2010

Three-hundred samples of powdered infant formula milk and related products from four different manufacturers in 2010 were collected and surveyed their contaminations for aerobic bacteria, coliform, Enterobacter(Cronobacter) sakazakii, and food-borne pathogens. Fifteen samples of sterilized infant formula milk were all negative on these microorganisms. In all collected products of un sterilized infant formulas and follow-on infant formulas, aerobic bacteria were detected at 239 (83.9%) among 285 samples, and they all were found below $10^3$ cfu/g. Coliform bacteria were also detected at four among 285 samples. Salmonella spp. and Ent. sakazakii, weren't detected at the all samples. Bacillus cereus was detected at 24 (8.4%) among 285 samples. The level of B. cereus was below 100 cfu/g but it was suitable for the range of specification of B. cereus in infant formulas. Clostridium perjringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes weren't also detected. In consequence, it was suitable for total viable count, coliform and potential pathogen to the specification of infant formulas and related products.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.266-269
• /
• 2004

저장기간 중 통닭의 포장형태에 따른 가열감량은 저장 3일과 저장 6일에는 벌크포장은 낮고 비닐포장에서는 높아 통계적인 유의차이(p<0.05)를 보였으며, 전단력은 저장 1일보다는저장 3일이후에 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 보수력은 저장 3일에는 벌크포장이 가장 높아 저장 1일의 보수력과는 반대의 결과를 보였다. 총균은 저장 1일에서 포장형태와 관계없이 총균이 모두 검출되었으나 저장 3일과 6일에는 비닐포장에서는 총균이 검출되지 않았으며, 저장 9일에는 비닐포장에서 가장 많이 검출되었다. Coliform는 포장형태와 저장기간에 관계없이 거의 검출되지 않았고, E.coli도 포장형태와 저장기간에 관계없이 거의 검출되지 않았다. 지방산패도(TBARS) 값은 포장형태에 따라 차이는 없었고, 단백질변성(VBN) 값은 저장 3일에서는 벌크포장이 랩트레이 포장과 비닐포장에서 높았다.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2010

Characterization of sediment quality is important for the proper management of surface water quality, yet sediment has not been monitored sufficiently. In this study, fecal indicator microorganism concentrations of sediments in the Geum River Basin were monitored. Sampling was carried out at one paddy field, one lakeshore and five monitoring stations in the lower reach of the Geum River Basin. Surface waters and sediments were sampled four times during rainy season. Total coliform concentrations of sediments were 12 times higher in average to those of surface waters while E. coli concentrations of sediments were six times higher. No correlation found between indicator microorganism concentration between surface waters and sediments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.10
• /
• pp.1343-1356
• /
• 2008

The evaluation of microbiological quality for school food samples collected from 19 selected middle and high schools located in Seoul was undertaken. Eighty-nine food samples consisting of 38 non-pretreated vegetables, 13 pre-washed and cut vegetables, 9 meats and poultry, 3 fish and shellfish, 7 dried fish, and shellfish and 20 processed foods were collected. Aerobic plate count, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli ) were detected using $Petrifilm^{TM}$, and the food-borne pathogens were screened by multiplex PCR with species-specific primer sets. Sequentially, the quantitative and confirmative test of the food-borne pathogens were carried out with the selective media and biochemical kits. The contamination of coliform counts was observed on the pre-washed vegetables ($3.4{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$) and meats ($2.2{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$). Also, the cooked foods were heavily contaminated with coliform, ranging from 1.0 to $5.5\;log\;CFU/g$. E. coli counts were found in 16 raw and cooked food samples, exceeding the microbiological standards for the guideline of safety management for school foods. Through PCR detection, B acillus cereus was detected in 32 raw and cooked foods, and quantitatively found in pre-washed carrot, radish, and pan-broiled dried shrimp and filefish ranging from $2.3{\sim}3.6\;log\;CFU/g$, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on frozen pork sample and was confirmed with API kit. Campylobacter jejuni was found in 3 ready-to-eat type vegetables. Vibrio parahaemolyticus were found in 4 pre-washed vegetables and 2 cooked foods, indicating unsatisfactory quality based upon the microbiological standards of ready-to-eat vegetables and cooked foods by Korea Food and Drug Administration. Salmonella spp. was detected in frozen chicken sample and confirmed by API kit and latex antisera agglutination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.198-205
• /
• 2008

In this study, microbial investigation is accomplished for 554 Jeot-kal samples(102 of Jeot-kal, 448 of Seasoned Jeot-kal and 4 of Sik-khe, respectively) that corresponds with Coliform-bacteria, Escherichia coli, Aerobic live bacteria as hygienic indicator microorganisms, and Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus as Food-borne pathogenic microorganisms, Based on the methods in Korea Food Code, reliable data are obtained as follows; in 31.9% rate of the samples, Coliform bacteria are verified in the extent of $0{\sim}20,000$ CFU/g as 2.3 logCFU/g. Especially, Seasoned Jeot-kal(37.7%,2.3 logCFU/g) are detected to 6 and 2 folds higher than those of Jeot-kal, 5.9% and 1.4 logCFU/g. Likewise, Escherichia coli is detected from 9 samples only in Seasoned Jeot-kal, that includes seasoned squid, seasoned octopus, seasoned roe of pollack, seasoned large-eyed herring and seasoned hairtail. Aerobic live bacteria are also detected in the range of $0{\sim}8.9{\times}10^8CFU/g$. Against salinity, E. coli are detected in samples only less than 10% salinity. Concomitantly, aerobic live bacteria count is decreased to $5.5{\sim}3.6$ log CFU/g upon the salinity is increased up to 25%. However, S. aureus and V. parahaemolyticus are not detected in 554 samples, presumptively referring Jeot-kal products are somehow free from such food-borne pathogens. As the results above, we deliberately consider that the sanitary control in Jeot-kal, which be necessarily fermented- as well as non-microbially inactivated should be ensured in near future and also suggest an effectual microbial standard corresponding to the Negativity in E. coli for Jeot-kal products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2010

The bacteriological and physiochemical analysis of sea water and sediments in Tongyeong harbor was conducted to evaluate sanitary conditions. The samples were collected at 8 stations established once a month from June, 2008 to May, 2009. During the study period, the range of temperature was from 6.7 to $25.2^{\circ}C$, transparency ranged from 1.2 to 2.6 m, chemical oxygen demand ranged from 1.90 to 2.92 mg/L, dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.2 to 10.5 mg/L, dissolved nitrogen ranged from 0.052 to 0.098 mg/L, phosphate ranged from 0.044 to 0.065 mg/L, respectively. Seafood, if eaten raw, carries the risk of food poisoning. Seafood poisoning is often cause by pathogenic microorganism originating from fecal contamination, such as Salmonella sp., Shigella sp. and norovirus. Fecal coliforms are an important indicator of fecal contamination. Therefore, data on fecal coliform are very important for evaluating the safety of fisheries in coastal areas. So, we investigated the sanitary indicate bacteria. The coliform group and fecal coliform MPN's of sea water in Tongyeong harbor were ranged from < 1.8~22,000/100 mL (GM 164.9 MPN/100 mL) and < 1.8~7,900 MPN/100 mL (GM 33.7 MPN/100 mL), respectively. Total coliform were detected 97.0% in 96 of samples and 68.9% of total coliforms were fecal coliforms. These results similar to another seawater detection ratio of total coloforms and fecal coliforms. The Vibrios was isolated and identified with VITEK system. Four hundred eighty strains that were obtained from sea water samples in Tongyeong harbor Detection ratio Vibrio alginolyticus, 34.2%, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 13.8%, Vibrio vulnificus 10.0%, and V. mimicus 12.5% respectively. Vibrio cholerae O1, was not detected. During the study period, the ranges of water content, ignition loss, COD, and acid volatile sulfates in sediments in Tongyeoung harbor were 41.0~57.4%, 7.8~10.5%, 6.51~9.30 mg/g, 0.04~0.09 mg/g, respectively. Heavy metals in sediment of Tongyeoung harbor were Cd, $0.10{\pm}0.05$; Cu, $4.79{\pm}8.20$; As, $1.95{\pm}0.17$; Hg, $0.10{\pm}0.07$; $Cr^{6+}$, $0.34{\pm}0.12$; Zn, $125.33{\pm}16.40$; Ni, $16.43{\pm}1.93$ mg/kg.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.347-355
• /
• 1986

The Sonakdong river is very important water source not only for agricultural water of Kimhae field but also for fishery water. Recently the middle and lower areas of the river have the tendency to be heavily contaminated by domestic sewage and agricultural chemicals. Fifty six water samples were collected from 8 stations from July to December in 1985 for the experiment (Fig. 1). To evaluate the water quality, pH, water temperature, electrical conductivity, chloride ion, nutrients ($NO^{-}_{2}-N,\;NO^{-}_{3}-N,\;NH^{+}_{4}-N,\;PO^{3-}_{4}-P,\;SiO_2-Si$), total coliform, fecal coliform, and fecal streptococcus were determined. Range and mean value of the samples were as follows; pH $6.3{\sim}9.4$, 7.91; water temperature $6.1{\sim}34.8^{\circ}C,\;23.88^{\circ}C$; electrical conductivity (from St. A to G) $1.575{\times}10^2{\sim}30.50{\times}10^2{\mu}{\mho}/cm,\;6.57{\times}10^2{\mu}{\mho}/cm$; chloride ion $23.5{\sim}14,300mg/l$, 770.0mg/l; nitrite-nitrogen $0.007{\sim}0.110mg/l$, 0.053mg/l; nitrate-nitrogen $0.001{\sim}1.638mg/l$, 0.649 mg/l; ammonia-nitrogen $0.017{\sim}4.200mg/l$, 0.497mg/l; phosphate-phoshorus $0.011{\sim}0.281mg/l$, 0.086mg/l; and silicate-silicious $2.4{\sim}6.5mg/l$, 4.43mg/l. Electrical conductivity and chloride ion of the station F(Chomanpo) were $2.676{\times}10^2{\mu}{\Omega}cm$ and 123.99mg/l which were lower than those of others. Among the analyzed nutrients, silicate-silicious concentration was the highest through all the samples. The bacterial density of the samples ranged $36{\sim}110,000/100ml$ for total coliform, $15{\sim}46,000/100ml$ for fecal coliform and $3.6{\sim}15,000/100ml$ for fecal streptococcus. The range and the mean of the TC/FC ratio were $3.0{\sim}9.6$, 5.51 and those of the FC/FS ratio were $1.1{\sim}9.2$, 6.19, respectively. On the other hand, fecal coliform was not detected in about $78\%$ of the water samples examined. Composition of coliform was $52\%$ Escherichia coli group, $3\%$ Citrobacter freundii group, $13\%$ Enterobacter aerogenes group and $31\%$ others.