• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2001

Korea has experiencing outbreaks of food borne illnesses since school feeding programs had been introduced to students. In order to prevent food borne diseases, preventive measures applicable to Korean school system were reviewed. The conclusions are summarized as follows; 1. Raw materials should be purchased through reliable sources in order to ensure the quality of food stuffs in the aspect of food safety and hygiene. 2. The potential causes of food borne illnesses should be carefully identified and control system should be established in order to monitor critical points. 3. Temperature of refrigeration should be monitored and controled continuously in order to safeguard the quality of foods. 4. National and local governments have to provide adequate equipment and utensils to the food establishments of school systems, and public health authorities have to make evaluation of the facilities periodically. The food handlers should be trained in safe food handling and the ways how to prevent food borne illnesses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.47-53
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• 2023

In the inspection of workplace hazards/risk factors by specialized institutions dedicated to safety management, inspection reports vary based on the inspectors, who lack the authority to enforce improvement of workplace hazards/risk factors. Thus, improvement and accident rates remain steady without decreasing. This study performed a regression analysis on the relationship between improvement and accident rates of categorized inspection items by classifying hazards/risk factors from inspection reports submitted by a specialized safety management institution in Chungbuk after inspecting 10 food and beverage manufacturers over the past three years. The hazards/risk factors were classified into five categories: mechanical, electrical, chemical, human, and environmental. The regression analysis revealed that the improvement rate of hazards/risk factors inspected by the specialized safety management institution influenced accident rates. To enhance improvement rates based on these findings, this study prioritized the correction of the five most frequently cited inspection items with the lowest improvement rates in each area. Based on these inspection items, this study suggested a checklist for use in workplace safety inspections of food manufacturers. This proposed checklist is expected to reduce accident rates in food manufacturing facilities. Currently, guidance and inspection of workplaces are mainly focused on accident rates rather than correcting hazards/risks. Thus, accident rates remain unchanged as workplace risks are inadequately improved according to the unique characteristics of each workplace. When conducting workplace guidance and inspection, policy measures and inspection methods are warranted to increase the improvement rate of hazards/risks.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2021

Background: In this study, the association of work and demographic characteristics with different traffic offenses committed by food delivery riders in Greece was examined. Previous research has identified various factors related to risky driving however, there is a need for exploring the complex interrelationship of work-related factors underlying risky driving behavior. Materials and Methods: A 2-items uestionnaire was used exploring delivery riders demographic characteristics, terms of employment, issues of concern during work and type of traffic offenses committed. In total, uestionnaires were analyzed using logistic regression in order to identify characteristics independently associated with serious traffic offenses, namely, red-light running and helmet non-use. Results: The analysis showed that: (i) typical health and safety measures had no effect on serious traffic offenses, (ii) young age was related to both offenses however (iii) different sets of work conditions were associated with reports of red-light running (i.e. low work experience, use of personal vehicle for work, and payment by hour) and helmet non-use respectively (i.e. intense work pace, high tip income per day and low concern about vehicle condition). Conclusion: The above findings provide evidence that serious traffic offenses are manifestations of underlying conflict experienced by the riders between safety and various performance criteria. Each one of the two offenses is related to different rider profiles aiming to satisfy different goals, namely, those mainly trying to maximize profit non-helmet users and those, mostly inexperienced ones, trying to cope with work pressure red light runners. Potential regulatory measures to alleviate risky practices are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.518-523
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• 2018

This study analyzed the food safety in processing process of simple-processed fishery products. A total of 88 samples analyzed for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and physicochemical hazards. No major foodborne pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella sp., Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7, were detected in any of the samples. However, Bacillus cereus (12 samples, 13.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (15 samples, 17.0%) were frequently detected in both the intermediate processing stages and the final products, although cell populations were not high. Very small amounts of heavy metals and histamine were detected in some samples, in quantities that did not exceed the safe guidelines according to Korean Government regulations. Similarly, no other physical hazards such as foreign material were observed in any of the samples. We concluded that there are no significant pathogenic bacteria or physicochemical food hazards in simply processed fish products from Korea. The present study strongly suggests that increased food sanitation measures should be implemented to decrease the prevalence of S. aureus in simple-processed fishery products.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2017

Although alternative test methods based on the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) are being developed to replace animal testing in reproductive and developmental toxicology, they are still in an early stage. Consequently, we aimed to develop alternative test methods in male animals using mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs). Here, we modified the OECD TG 489 and optimized the in vitro comet assay in our previous study. This study aimed to verify the validity of in vitro tests involving mSSCs by comparing their results with those of in vivo tests using C57BL/6 mice by gavage. We selected hydroxyurea (HU), which is known to chemically induce male reproductive toxicity. The 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) value of HU was 0.9 mM, as determined by the MTT assay. In the in vitro comet assay, % tail DNA and Olive tail moment (OTM) after HU administration increased significantly, compared to the control. Annexin V, PI staining and TUNEL assays showed that HU caused apoptosis in mSSCs. In order to compare in vitro tests with in vivo tests, the same substances were administered to male C57BL/6 mice. Reproductive toxicity was observed at 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day as measured by clinical measures of reduction in sperm motility and testicular weight. The comet assay, DCFH-DA assay, H&E staining, and TUNEL assay were also performed. The results of the test with C57BL/6 mice were similar to those with mSSCs for HU treatment. Finally, linear regression analysis showed a strong positive correlation between results of in vitro tests and those of in vivo. In conclusion, the present study is the first to demonstrate the effect of HU-induced DNA damage, ROS formation, and apoptosis in mSSCs. Further, the results of the current study suggest that mSSCs could be a useful model to predict male reproductive toxicity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.442-450
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• 2018

Liquid egg products can be contaminated with Salmonella spp. during processing. A predictive model for the growth of Salmonella spp. in unpasteurized liquid eggs was developed and validated. Liquid whole egg, liquid yolk, and liquid egg white samples were prepared and inoculated with Salmonella mixture (approximately 3 Log CFU/mL) containing five serovars (S. Bareilly, S. Richmond, S. Typhimurium monophasic, S. Enteritidis, and S. Gallinarum). Salmonella growth data at isothermal temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and $40^{\circ}C$) was collected by 960 h. The population of Salmonella in liquid whole egg and egg yolk increased at above $10^{\circ}C$, while Salmonella in egg white did not proliferate at all temperature. These results demonstrate that there is a difference in the growth of Salmonella depending on the types of liquid eggs (egg yolk, egg white, liquid whole egg) and storage temperature. To fit the growth data of Salmonella in liquid whole egg and egg yolk, Baranyi model was used as the primary model and the maximum growth rate and lag phase duration for each temperature were determined. A secondary model was developed with maximum growth rate as a function of temperature. The model performance measures, bias factor ($B_f$, 0.96-0.99) and $r^2$ (0.96-0.99) indicated good fit for both primary and secondary models. In conclusion, it is thought that the growth model can be used usefully to predict Salmonella spp. growth in various types of unpasteurized liquid eggs when those are exposed to various temperature and time conditions during the processing.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Mycotoxin contamination is a global phenomenon and causes a wide array of negative effects and other complications. This study focused on commonly found mycotoxins in Africa and the possible means of prevention or reduction of their contaminating effects. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of mold and fungi; they are generally toxic to living organisms. Hundreds of mycotoxins have been identified thus far, with some, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, and patulin, considered agro-economically important. Several factors contribute to the presence of mycotoxins in food, such as climatic conditions, pest infestation, and poor harvest and storage practices. Exposure to mycotoxins, which occurs mostly by ingestion, leads to various diseases, such as mycotoxicoses and mycoses that may eventually result in death. In light of this, this review of relevant literature focuses on mycotoxin contamination, as well as various methods for the prevention and control of their prevalence, to avert its debilitating consequences on human health. Clear evidence of mycotoxin contamination is present in Africa, and it was therefore recommended that adequate prevention and control of these toxic substances in our food system should be encouraged and that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure food safety as well as the enhanced or long-lifespan of the African populace. Governments, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations should tailor the limited resources available to tackle mycotoxin prevalence, as these will offer the best prospects for successful development of a sustainable food system in Africa.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.279-286
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• 2023

Rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic bacteria is crucial for various applications, including public health and food safety. However, existing bacteria detection techniques have several drawbacks as they are inconvenient and require time-consuming procedures and complex machinery. Recently, the precision and versatility of CRISPR/Cas system has been leveraged to design biosensors that offer a more efficient and accurate approach to bacterial detection compared to the existing techniques. Significant research has been focused on developing biosensors based on the CRISPR/Cas system which has shown promise in efficiently detecting pathogenic bacteria or virus. In this review, we present a biosensor based on the CRISPR/Cas system that has been specifically developed to overcome these limitations and detect different pathogenic bacteria effectively including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes. This biosensor takes advantage of the CRISPR/Cas system's precision and versatility for more efficiently accurately detecting bacteria compared to the previous techniques. The biosensor has potential to enhance public health and ensure food safety as the biosensor's design can revolutionize method of detecting pathogenic bacteria. It provides a rapid and reliable method for identifying harmful bacteria and it can aid in early intervention and preventive measures, mitigating the risk of bacterial outbreaks and their associated consequences. Further research and development in this area will lead to development of even more advanced biosensors capable of detecting an even broader range of bacterial pathogens, thereby significantly benefiting various industries and helping in safeguard human health

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.315-328
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyze the problems arising from the actual conditions of the Foodbank, and to implement the HACCP system as a solution in terms of increasing the safety of donated food within the Foodbank. In order to apply HACCP system, the entire Foodbank working process such as preparation, collection, transportation, division, and distribution was considered and analyzed to decide the application point for CCPs. Donated foods mainly consisted of processed foods, raw materials, lunch boxes, and cooked foods from mass catering establishments, which dominated over the others in terms of quantity. Cooked foods were divided into three groups based on menu-types and processing methods. Temperature, pH, and aw were measured on cooked foods, and Total Plate Count, Coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 were conducted in order to apply a HACCP plan. From these experiments, temperature, pH, and $a_w$ of donated food were likely contributed to microbial growth. Donated foods before HACCP implementation showed high numbers in terms of total plate count and Coliforms, both well over the acceptable standard levels. By setting the CCPs on maintenance of donated food below $10^{\circ}C$ and using a $75^{\circ}C$ reheating method, microbiological hazard levels were able to be controlled and lowered. From these results, it is concluded that in order to guarantee food safety, foods donated to the Foodbank must not only maintain a reasonable level of initial microbiological growth, but also must be handled properly through time and temperature controls within the Foodbank system. Furthermore, in terms of implementing the HACCP plan within the Foodbank management structure, basic food safety and sanitation measures, such as reheating facilities and various cold chain systems such as refrigerated vehicle for food transportation are importantly needed. The training and education of Foodbank personnel and management in areas such as awareness of hygiene and safe food handling and practice are also required and necessary.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2009

HACCP is a scientific and systematic program that identifies specific hazards and gives measures for their control to ensure the safety of foods. Based on the Livestock Products Processing Act, the HACCP system is now being applied to Korean livestock products since December 1997, and Korea is accelerating its application from farm to table, including in farms, slaughterhouses, livestock product industries, retail markets, and transportation. The transport of livestock and its products is one of the vulnerable sectors in terms of food safety in Korea. Meats are transported in trucks in the form of carcasses or packaged meats in boxes. Carcasses may be exposed to microbiological, physical, and chemical hazards from the environment or through cross-contamination from other meats. Poor cleaning or maintenance of vehicles and tools may also raise the exposure of carcasses to microbiological or chemical hazards. HACCP application and its acceleration in distribution, particularly in transport, is regarded as critical to the provision to consumers of ultimately safe livestock products. To achieve this goal, steady efforts to develop practical tools for HACCP application should be carried out.