• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.216-225
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• 1999

Safety of present food has been accepted on the basis of extensive use experience for a long time. Many food resources have been developed by traditional techniques without any significant adverse impacts on the safety of food. Recently recombinant DNA techniques are being used to develop new food resources. These techniques enable developers to make specific genetic modifications in food resources that introduce substances that could not be introduced by traditional methods. With these techniques food resources are being to resist pests and disease, to tolerate herbicides, and to have improved characteristics for food preservation and nutritional contents. Because the properties of an organism results from interaction between biochemical pathways controlled by many genes, the genes conferring these traits usually encode directly responsible proteins for the new trait as well as proteins that indirectly modify carbohydrates or lipids in food. Therefore, this kind of food is regarded as new food that has not been existed before, and the safety of the food developed by recombinant DNA techniques should be evaluated upon scientific basis. In this paper, the issues upon safety of the food developed by gene manipulation are diseased in terms of composional changes that can be introduced, potential food safety harzards that might arise, present status of safety regulations in various countries and international organizations, and suggestions for the safety regulation in Korea.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2023

Background: Food consumption is one of the most important routes for radionuclide intake for the public; therefore, there is the need to have a comprehensive understanding of the amount of radioactivity in food products. Consumption of radionuclide-contaminated food could increase potential health risks associated with exposure to radiation such as cancers. The present study aims to determine radioactivity levels in some food products (milk, rice, sugar, and wheat flour) consumed in Mali and to evaluate the radiological effect on the public health from these radionuclides. Materials and Methods: The health impact due to ingestion of radionuclides from these foods was evaluated by the determination of activity concentration of radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs using gamma spectrometry system with high-purity germanium detector and radiological hazards index in 16 samples collected in some markets, mall, and shops of Bamako-Mali. Results and Discussion: The average activity concentrations were 9.8±0.6 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 8.7±0.5 Bq/kg for ²³²Th, 162.9±7.9 Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, and 0.0035±0.0005 Bq/kg for ¹³⁷Cs. The mean values of radiological hazard parameters such as annual committed effective dose, internal hazard index, and risk assessment from this work were within the dose criteria limits given by international organizations (International Commission on Radiological Protection and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) and national standards. Conclusion: The results show low public exposure to radioactivity and associated radiological impact on public health. Nevertheless, this study stipulates vital data for future research and regulatory authorities in Mali.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.63-82
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• 2019

Due to technological development in the globalized food system, quantitative problems of food supply have been solved, but food risks have expanded from problems in specific regions to global problems. In order to maximize the efficiency of agricultural production, the growth in agricultural production system, procirement of raw materials, establishment of food processing processes and establishment of food supply chain systems are required. Control of hazards requires facility and administrative efforts. In this study, we examined the role of CSR in conjunction with food safety. Food SCM is related to food safety and correlates with the food supply chain. In terms of the triple bottom line theory, CSR is correlated with SCM and it is possible to pursue food safety through corporate CSR and SCM. In this study, it is statistically confirmed that SCM and CSR are in a positive relationship. In the impact of CSR on food safety, it has been confirmed that economic responsibility and legal responsibility take precedence over environmental responsibility and social responsibility. Based on this, we can achieve food safety through SCM and CSR, and we can decide which of CSR activities can be prioritized.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.392-398
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate housewives' purchase behavior and needs for information on food safety. The data were collected from 275 housewives over the age of 20 living in Seoul and metropolitan areas from March 9 to April 3 in 2009. The result of this study showed that 'checking expiration date' topped with 4.59 in the purchase behavior for food safety followed by 'buying domestics' (4.08) and 'considering food safety' (3.66). The study also showed that only 18.5% of the respondents said that they have an experience of education for food safety, and 'environmental hormones' was the highest with 89.1% in the percentage of correct answer but 'mad cow disease' was the lowest with 25.8%. Also total degree of knowledge for food hazards was an average of 8.56 out of 13. The respondents' degree of information search for food safety was generally low at 2.61 and tv/radio topped the list of information sources with 4.04, followed by newspaper/magazine (3.80), internet (3.44), and family/relatives/friends (3.39). Finally, degree of information needs for food safety was generally high with 3.82. Therefore, government, producers, distributers and academic researchers must provide consumers collective and sufficient information about the food safety and hazards through the diverse information sources. Also they have to play their respective roles in developing and executing feasible education program for consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.940-944
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• 2006

The propose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological hazards of the customers' hands in university foodservice operation. A total of 190 customers' hands were sampled to test about aerobie plate counts, coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The average number of aerobic plate counts was 3.11 log CFU/hand Ifrom 0.70 to 6.47 log CFU/hand) and that of coliform counts was 1.06 log CFU/hand (from not detected to 5.04 log CFU/hand). The mean level of aerobic plate counts (t=9.87, p<0.001) and coliforms (t=7.91, p<0.05) was significantly different by gender. E. coli was not detected, but Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 39 (20.5%) of 190 samples. The average of hand-washing frequency was 6.46 time per day. By the hand-washing frequency, the mean level of aerobic plate counts was significantly different (F=527, p<0.001), but coliforms was not significantly different. This study shows that it is needs to be given attention to hygiene handlers but also for customers in foodservice operations.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2005

Antioxidant films are one active packaging technology that can extend food shelf-life through preventing lipid oxidation, stabilizing color, maintaining sensory properties and delaying microbial growth in foods. Because raw, fresh and minimal processed foods are more perishable during storage or under display conditions than further processed foods, they rapidly lose their original quality. Foods are susceptible to physical, chemical, and biochemical hazards to which packaging films can be effective barriers. Although films incorporated natural (tocopherols, flavonoids and phenolic acids) or synthetic antioxidants (BHT, BHA, TBHQ, propyl gallate) have been extensively tested to improve quality and safety of various foods, food applications require addressing issues such as physical properties, chemical action, cost, and legal approval. Increased interest in natural antioxidants as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants has triggered research on use of the new natural antioxidants in films and coatings. Use of new components (phytochemicals) as film additives can improve food quality and human health. The biosynthesis of plant phenolics can potentially be optimized by active coatings on harvested fruits and vegetables. These coatings can trigger the plants natural proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway to increase the phenolic contents and maintain overall plant tissue quality. This alternate metabolic pathway has been proposed by Dr. K. Shetty and is supported by numerous studies. A new generation of active food films will not only preserve the food, but increase food's nutritional quality by optimizing raw food biochemical production of phytochemicals.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.346-354
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: While the use of food additives in food processing has become a common practice worldwide, consumers' worry about potential hazards has not diminished. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in South Korean parents' perceptions about food additives by analyzing the results of surveys conducted from 2014 to 2018. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted an off-line survey in Korea annually between 2014 and 2018 on perceptions about food additives. The numbers of survey respondents in each year from 2014 to 2018 were 381, 426, 301, 519, and 369, respectively. Our consumer respondents were parents of elementary-school-aged children. RESULTS: The ratios of respondents perceiving "food safety" as the most important factor in purchasing processed foods and "food additives" as the biggest threat to food safety have decreased over the years. However, most consumers still have negative perceptions of food additives. Additionally, among consumers lower confidence in or trust of the Korean government continued throughout the study period and appeared to be the main problem that needs to be overcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that Korean parents are still troubled by food additives. Consumers' confidence in the government needs to be increased through public communications. More multifaceted educational programs communicating scientific knowledge of food additives are needed in order to correct consumers' misperceptions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2011

This study established hazards which may cause risk to human at farm during cultivation stage of paprika. Samples of plants (paprika, leaf, stem), cultivation environments (water, soil), personal hygiene (hand, glove, clothes), work utensils (carpet, basket, box) and airborne bacteria were collected from three paprika farms (A, B, C) located in Western Gyeongnam, Korea. The collected samples were assessed for biological (sanitary indications and major foodborne pathogens), chemical (heavy metals, pesticide residues) and physical hazards. In biological hazards, total bacteria and coliform were detected at the levels of 1.9~6.6 and 0.0~4.610g CFU/g, leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, while Escherichia coli was not detected in all samples. In major pathogens, only Bacillus cereus were detected at levels of ${\leq}$ 1.5 log CFU/g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, while Staphylococuus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. Heavy metal and pesticide residue as chemical hazards were detected at levels below the regulation limit, physical hazard factors, such as insects, pieces of metal and glasses, were also found in paprika farms. Proper management is needed to prevent biological hazards due to cross-contamination while physical and chemical hazards were appropriate GAP criteria.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 1998

The incidence of total molds, Fusarium species, and the estrogenic mycotoxin,zearalenone, in Korean grain samples were investigated . The majority of molds infecting grain were identified as belonging to the genus Alternaria , with an average infection rate of kernels of 43% and 32% in rice and baley, respectively. Fusarium speciens were less common, with average infection rates of 13% and 19% in reice and barley, respectively. A number of field fungi including Curvularia and Dactylaria were also observed. Among the Fusarium speices, 71 of 94 Fusarium isolates were identified as F.semitectum. A few F. moniliforme and F. equiseti were observed linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). In addition, deoxynivalenol was not deteted by ELISA . However, thepresence of molds, including Fusarium species, may pose possbile health hazards to persons consuming those grains.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2011

This study investigates relation of food safety incidents with climate. Therefore food safety incidents and climate data during 1999 to 2009 have been analyzed. In situ observations of monthly mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity in 60 observation stations of Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) have been used in this study. Food safety incidents data have been constructed by searching media reports following Park's method (2009) during the same period. According to the Park's method, 729 events were collected. To analyze its relations, food safety incidents data have been classified into chemical, biological, and physical hazards. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients have been applied to analyze the relations. The correlation of food safety incidents has negative one with precipitation (-0.48), and positive one with minimum temperature(0.45). Precipitation has been correlated with biological and physical hazards more than chemical hazard. Temperatures (mean temperature, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature) have been correlated closely with chemical hazard than others. Food safety incidents data has been interblended with human behavior factor through decision-making processes in food manufacturing, processing, and consumption phases of "farm-totable" food processing. Act in the preventing damage will be obvious if the hazard were apparent. Therefore abnormal condition could be more dangerous than that of apparent extreme events because apparent events or extreme events become one of alarm over hazards. Therefore, human behavior should be considered as one of the important factors for analysis of food safety incidents. The result of this study can be used as a better case study for food safety researches related to climate change.