• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.499-505
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• 2006

Clostridium botulinum spores are widely distributed in nature. Type A and proteolytic type B bacteria produce heat-resistant spores that are primarily involved in most of the food-borne botulism outbreaks associated with low-acid canned foods. Food-borne botulism results from the consumption of food in which C. botulinum has grown and produced neurotoxin. Growth and toxin production of type A and proteolytic type B in canned foods can be prevented by the use of thermal sterilization alone or in combination with salt and nitrite. The hazardousness of C. botulinum in low-acid canned foods can also be reduced by preventing post-process contamination and introducing hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) practices during production. Effectiveness of non-thermal technologies such as high pressure processing with elevated process temperatures on inactivation of spores of C. botulinum will be discussed.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2013

Milk and dairy products are not only excellent foods for humans, providing plentiful varied nutrients, but are also a good medium for detrimental food-borne pathogens. Although the food safety field has stabilized due to standardization of food processing, such as the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP), outbreaks and cases caused by food-borne pathogens still occur at high rates. In approximately 30% of cases, the disease-causing pathogenic organism is undetermined. Recently, a biosensor was developed that has a simple and fast response and overcomes the problems of conventional methods such as cultivation, immuno-assay, polymerase chain reaction, and microarray. Due to the high selectivity and sensitivity of optical biosensors, it is a suitable method for the immediate detection of food-borne pathogens in milk and dairy products.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.197-201
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• 2014

This study was performed to identify and assess food hazards during dry laver processing. Samples including raw materials, intermediates, and finished products during dried-laver processing were collected from seven dried-laver processing facilities, and microbial analyses were conducted. Microbial levels such as total coliforms and total viable cell count (TVC) increased as the processing steps progressed. TVC and total coliforms ranged from <30 to $9.1{\times}10^7$ CFU/g and <18 to 27,600 MPN/100 g for intermediates and finished products obtained during dried-laver processing, respectively. However, no fecal coliform was detected in the samples. Additionally, food-borne bacteria including Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were not identified in finished products. For heavy metal content, arsenic ranged from 30.18 to 39.05 mg/kg, mercury from 0.005 to 0.009 mg/kg, and cadmium from 0.076 to 0.318 mg/kg dry mass in all finished products. However, lead was not detected in samples tested in this study. In conclusion, dried-laver products were safe based on the levels of food-borne bacteria and heavy metal contents. However, it is important to reduce total viable cell counts and total coliforms during dried-laver processing.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2022

Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) has potential risks associated with pathogenic bacterial contamination as it is usually consumed raw. In this study, we investigated the microbiota of Chinese chives purchased from traditional markets and grocery stores in March (Spring) and June (Summer) 2017. Differences in bacterial diversity were observed, and the microbial composition varied across sampling times and sites. In June, potential pathogenic genera, such as Escherichia, Enterobacter, and Pantoea, accounted for a high proportion of the microbiota in samples purchased from the traditional market. A large number of pathogenic bacteria (Acinetobacter lwoffii, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens) were detected in the June samples at a relatively high rate. In addition, the influence of the washing treatment on Chinese chive microbiota was analyzed. After storage at 26℃, the washing treatment accelerated the growth of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) because it caused dynamic shifts in Chinese chive indigenous microbiota. These results expand our knowledge of the microbiota in Chinese chives and provide data for the prediction and prevention of food-borne illnesses.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to develop a reliable dietary questionnaire to assess human exposure to food-borne hazards. Eleven food-borne hazards were chosen as a priority control list through a literature review and advisory committees. The 11 food-borne hazards were phthalate, aflatoxin, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and acrylamide. The characteristics, exposure level, and paths of these hazards were reviewed, and questionnaire items were identified to assess human exposure from the literature. A questionnaire was developed for each selected food based on its characteristics. Based on the items in the individual questionnaires, a comprehensive questionnaire, which contained demographic characteristics, job information, socioeconomic factors, health related lifestyles, and dietary behaviors, was developed. A 99-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess food-borne hazard exposure was also developed. The FFQ included frequency of food intake during the previous year, container type for purchasing and storing food, and cooking method. The questionnaire developed in this study could be applied to assess dietary factors during an exposure assessment of food-borne hazards in a large population. A validation study for the questionnaire is needed before applying it to surveys.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2004

This study was conducted to establish the hygiene standards for chicken entrees (deep-fried breast chicken, chicken and potato in red pepper paste and smothered chicken) served with in 3 different elementary school lunch programs during 2002. The study evaluated the layout characteristics of the food facilities, and determined the physical and microbiological hazards for the production of chicken entrees based on the HACCP(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system. The kitchen layouts needed to be remodeled for the separation of soiled and clean work areas. The pH values for all items were over 6.0, which require careful attention. The microbial assessments of 3 chicken items revealed that the TPC, coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus were within normal ranges, but Salmonella was found at several stages in the production of all products, with the exception of smothered chicken. The bacterial counts of the kitchen utensils and cooks' hands exceeded acceptable limits, and workers' sanitary practices were poor in terms of sanitary handling and holding of foods and utensils. The CCPs determined related to the steps of receiving, cooking and breaking of egg shells. From our findings, it is recommended that chicken entrees should be prepared and served very carefully, as salmonella was detected at several stages during meal production, and the aim of the HACCP system is to secure against food-borne illnesses due to reckless school food service operations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2011

Assessing human exposure to food-borne hazards requires standardized assessment tools. The objective of this study was to validate a newly developed dietary assessment questionnaire to assess human exposure to food-borne hazards, which include dietary behavior and food consumption patterns such as eating frequency, types of food containers and cooking methods. A total of 216 adults were recruited for two questionnaire surveys (questionnaire 1 and 2) about 1 week apart with a 3 day diet record. Reproducibility was evaluated by comparing responses from questionnaires 1 and 2, and validity was checked by comparing responses from questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record. Comparisons were based on the percent agreement and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The mean exact agreement of food containers at purchase between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 73.5%, for storing containers it was 71.9%, and for cooking methods it was 83.0%. The mean correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaires 1 and 2 was 0.71 (range, 0.50-0.83). The mean correlation coefficient of the food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 0.21 (range, 0.04-0.48). The exact and adjacent agreement of food intake frequency quartile assessed by questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was 65.4% (range, 51.0-82.1%). Although the correlation coefficient for food intake frequency between questionnaire 2 and the 3 day diet record was low, the exact and adjacent food intake frequency agreement was higher than 50% and reproducibility of the dietary behaviors exceeded 70%. Therefore, the questionnaire developed in this study could be applied to assess diets for the human exposure to food-borne hazards as a qualitative assessment in a large population.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.389-406
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• 2007

This study was conducted to estimate the safety level of non-cooking and cooking processed foods to propose the sanitary management of foods donated to foodbanks. The time and temperature were measured and the microbial levels of aerobic plate counts (APC), coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella spp., S. aureus, B. cereus, and E. coli O157:H7 were analyzed on ten food items donated to seven foodbanks. The amount of cooked foods donated to each foodbank was about 10 to 40 servings. All foodbanks hired a supervisor and had at least one refrigerator/freezer and one temperature-controlled vehicle, but only four foodbanks had the separate offices to manage the foodbank operation. The flow of donated foods was gone through the steps; production, meal service and holding at donator, collection by foodbank, transport (or holding after transport) and distribution to recipients. After production, the levels of APC of both non-cooking and cooking processed foods were complied with the standards by Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development, and were not increased till distribution. Only the level of coliforms in dried squid & cucumber salad (1.5×$10^3$ CFU/g) was not met the standards. E. coli and other pathogens were not detected in all tested samples. The microbial levels of delivery vessels and work tables were satisfactory, but the APC levels of two of four tested serving tables (6.9×$10^3$ and 5.3×$10^3$ CFU/100$cm^2$) and the coliforms level of one (1.1×$10^3$ CFU/100$cm^2$) were over the standards. The air-borne microflora level in serving room was estimated as satisfactory. It took about 3.0 to 6.5 hours from after-production to distribution and the temperatures of donated foods were exposed mostly to temperature danger zone, which had a high potential of microbial growth. These results imply that a checklist to monitor time and temperature in each step should be provided and the employees involving foodbank operation should be properly educated to ensure the safety of donated foods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.186-198
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• 2000

The quality of the management of sanitation in food service establishments (school lunch programs, hospital patient food services, and commercial catering food services) in Korea was reviewed and evaluated, and ten strategies fur future improvement were suggested. They were: (1) An increase of qualified manpower and improvement of the professional training of the staff; (2) Obtaining special facilities exclusively for food service; (3) Improvement of facilities especially the kitchens; (4) Improvement of policy fur procuring raw materials and being assured of their quality by designing some standards and specifications for the raw materials to be purchased; (5) Production and use accurate and reliable kitchen apparatus and instruments; (6) An increase of the laboratory apparatus and instruments for inspection and evaluation of the sanitary level of raw materials and food service environments; (7) Enforced improvement of personal hygiene of the staff; (8) Use of a variety of methods in sanitary education and training; (9) Actively inspect the quality of imported foods; (10) Strengthening the research and accumulation of background data regarding sanitation management. There is a long process from the production of food to eating. The cooking process is the ultimate end of preparation of food before eating. This process sometimes increases the occurrence of food-borne diseases if we mishandle the food, even we obtained safe food. The process can also remove health hazards and reduce the risk from the hazards if we handle the food well although we have unsafe foods. This means the cooking process is a major key to preventing food-borne diseases. The concepts of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) should be applied and practiced in food service establishments in Korea as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3578-3585
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to establish the critical limit at CCP (Critical Control Point) of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system for instant noodle and it was conducted at P company in Ichen(Gyeonggi-do), Korea. According to the CCP, Fried process were experimented to removal and decrease of microbiological and chemical hazards by measuring of each temperature and times. As a result, the standard plate count and pathogenic microorganism were not detected by fried processing (Temperature : $145{\pm}10^{\circ}C$, Time : $75{\pm}30$ sec). The acid value of chemical hazards produced by fried processing was able to manage, showed lower (0.2) than the legal limit (0.6). Air-borne bacterial examination results detected(3 CFU/mL, 3 CFU/mL) in the Frying Room and Steam Room. Therefore, the CCP-BC of fried process would be a great alternative to prevent and remove hazard analysis, such as general and pathogenic microorganism (E. coli O157:H7, B. cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, Sthaph. aureus etc), chemical hazard analysis. In conclusion, it suggested that HACCP plan was necessary for management standard and systematic approach in establishement of critical limit, solving the problem, method of verification, education and records management by fried processing.