• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1284-1290
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity and shelf-life extension effect of iceberg lettuce packed in BN/PE film. The BN/PE film has a strong microbial suppression effect on pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and S. typhimurium. The number of psychrophiles and mesophiles during 5 days of cold storage of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce at $10^{\circ}C$ packaged in BN/PE film was strictly suppressed in comparison with other tested films (OPP, PE, and PET film). When fresh processed iceberg lettuce was processed and stored under the current conditions, the shelf-life of the product was longer than 5 days in the BN/PE film package, whereas the shelf-life when using the other films tested, PE, OPP and PET, was no longer than 3-4 days. The decay rates of the iceberg lettuce packed in the BN/PE film was maintained at $29.8{\pm}2.1%$ on the 5th day of preservation. The samples packed in BN/PE film maintained an excellent visual quality during the 3 days of storage without significant differences in comparison with the initial visual quality. No browning was observed in the samples packed in BN/PE film for up to 3 days. The texture of shredded iceberg lettuce packaged in BN/PE film remained unchanged up to 3 days, and then a moderate decrease in texture was observed after 4 days of storage. In addition, the overall acceptability of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce packaged in BN/PE film did not change for up to 3 days, whereas the samples packaged in the other films were inedible by 3 days of storage. In conclusion, the shelf-life of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce packaged in the BN/PE film was extended to more than 5 days at $10^{\circ}C$, whereas that in the other films was 2 days at $10^{\circ}C$. Therefore, the shelf-life extension effect of the fresh-cut iceberg lettuce in BN/PE film packaging was very effective compared with the other films tested.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.568-572
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in combination with BN/PE film on the shelf life and quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during cold storage. The total mesophilic population in the sample packed in BN/PE film under MAP conditions was dramatically reduced in comparison with that of PE film, PE film under MAP conditions, and BN/PE film. The $O_2$ concentration in the BN/PE film under MAP conditions decreased slightly as the storage period progressed. The coloration of the iceberg lettuce progressed the slowest when it was packaged in BN/PE film under MAP conditions, followed by BN/PE film, PE film, and PE film under MAP conditions. The shelf life of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce packaged in the BN/PE film under MAP conditions was extended by more than 2 days at $10^{\circ}C$ as compared with that of the BN/PE film in which the extension effect was more than 2 days longer than that of PE, PET, and OPP films.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.239-243
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• 2007

Effects of aqueous chlorine dioxide ($ClO_2$) treatment on the microbial growth and the quality of iceberg lettuce during storage were examined. Lettuce samples were treated with 0, 5, 10, and 50 ppm of $ClO_2$ solution and stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment significantly decreased the populations of total aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and coliforms on the shredded lettuce. Fifty ppm $ClO_2$ treatment reduced the initial populations of total aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and coliforms by 1.77, 1.34, 1.10 log CFU/g, respectively. Aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment caused negligible changes in the Hunter color L, a, and b values during storage. Sensory evaluations exhibited that there were no significant changes among treatments. These results indicate that the aqueous $ClO_2$ treatment can be useful in improving the microbial safety of the iceberg lettuce during storage and extending the shelf life.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of harvest seasons on quality and microbial population at different steps of production chain of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuces harvested in May, June, July, October, and December were processed following industrial practices, and stored at $5^{\circ}C$ for 9 days. For microbial measurement, samples were taken from each of the following steps: harvest, transport, pretreatment, cutting, 1st-washing, 2nd-washing, and day 3, 6, and 9 of storage. Iceberg lettuce cultivated in protect house and harvested in May and October showed higher $CO_2$ levels in the packages and electrolyte leakages than lettuce harvested in June, July and December. Microbial population of raw materials harvested in July was highest (6.76 log), and microbial growth rate during storage was highest in samples harvested in May. Lettuce harvested in June had better quality and microbial safety compared to other lettuces. Although lettuce harvested in October and December had less microbial population in either raw materials or processed products, those samples had inferior quality due to off-odor development and severe browning. Therefore, it is required to maintain quality and ensure microbial safety to distribute fresh-cut lettuce with high quality and safety throughout the year.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.163-171
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• 2017

Effects of different packaging methods for maintaining the shelf life and postharvest quality of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were studied after harvesting in summer season. Lettuce heads were packaged in plastic crate with or without different films such as (A) Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film; (B) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with LLDPE film; (C): Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with perforated high density polyethylene (HDPE) film; (D) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with perforated HDPE; and (E) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate without any film (control), and stored at $2^{\circ}C$ for 35 days. Several quality parameters such as fresh weight loss, SPAD (soil & plant analyzer development) meter value, respiration rate, moisture content and appearance of lettuce were investigated. The lettuce wrapped with individually-sealed LLDPE film showed the lowest weight loss and the highest SPAD value rendering the best appearance index among the treataments throughout the three-week storage period at $2^{\circ}C$. Extending the freshness of iceberg lettuce during low temperature storage will definitely increase the salability potential in the domestic market even during summer season.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.827-833
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• 2017

This study was investigated the effects of various commercial sanitizers on microbial characteristics in fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during storage. For screening sanitizer, lettuce was cut and dipped in chlorine water ($0.2ml{\cdot}L^{-1}$), solution of organic acids such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, mixture of ascorbic acid and acetic acid (1-6%), and solutions of commercial sanitizers such as Formula 4$^{TM}$ (1,3,4%), Fresh produce wash$^{TM}$ (1,3,4%), Cleancol$^{TM}$ (1%), Chitochol$^{TM}$ (1%) and Natural Ca$^{TM}$ (0.1%) for 3 min, respectively. Washing lettuce with selected sanitizers resulted in reduction of aerobic bacteria of more than 2 log CFU/g. Initial pH of lettuce was related with the pH of sanitizers. pH ranged from 4.7 to 6.1 in Formula 4 (4%, pH 1.7) and Natural Ca (0.1%, pH 12.0), respectively. Chlorine water showed consistent and significant inhibition effect in all of microorganisms except total coliform. Over 3% of Formula 4 and Fresh produce wash were found to have high bactericidal activity among sanitizers. The sanitizers of chlorine water, Fresh produce wash, Chitochol and Natural Ca were effective in reducing yeast and mould populations. As coliform and E. coli, Formula 4 (4%) showed the highest bactericidal activity. The bactericidal effect of commercial sanitizers during storage varied with the kinds and concentrations of tested sanitizers. Although inhibition effect was not showed during storage, these results suggest that commercial sanitizers could be an alternative to chlorine for washing fresh-cut produce.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2004

The antioxidant activity of forty two kinds of salad vegetables grown in Korea was evaluated. Methanol extract of freeze-dried vegetable was assayed by radical scavenging activity using 1,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Fe^{2+}$-catalyzed lipid peroxidation inhibition by TBA method. Total phenolics were determined colorimetrically using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The highest radical scavenging activity was expressed by perilla leaf, followed by dandelion leaf, red and green leafy lettuce, of which $IC_{50}$ was less than 0.10 mg/mL. Angelica leaf showed the highest inhibitory action for lipid peroxidation with $95\%$, and then dandelion leaf, water spinach, and perilla leaf inhibited over $80\%$. However, lettuce (Iceberg) and young Chinese cabbage exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity based on both assay methods. Highly positive correlations between antioxidative activities and total phenolics were observed (p < 0.001). The results suggested that salad vegetables, especially perilla leaf, leafy lettuce, dandelion or angelica, could be used for easily accessible sources of natural antioxidants.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.399-401
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• 2015

This study investigated the plant growth promoting activity of geraniol on Chinese cabbage (Brasscia campestris ssp. Pekinensis Rupr.), Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L.), Crown daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.), Iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Leaf perilla (Perilla frutescens Britt.). Geraniol at 0.5 to $10mg\;L^{-1}$ promoted radical growth of Chinese cabbage Pak Choi, Crown daisy, Iceberg lettuce and leaf perilla by >30%. In the pot experiments, geraniol treatment at $20mg\;L^{-1}$ by drenching increased up to 190% of the aerial part growth promotion. By comparison, foliar application showed 124% promoting activity only at $100mg\;L^{-1}$.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2013

The effect of phytoncide solution treatment on the browning and quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during storage was studied. The treatments were applied as four solutions adjusted at $10^{\circ}C$: distilled water (DW) as the control; edible ethanol (EE); 1% (v/v) phytoncide essential oil from pine needle diluted with distilled water (DP); and 1% (v/v) phytoncide essential oil diluted with edible ethanol (EP). Fresh-cut lettuce was dipped in each solution for 60 sec, was rinsed with distilled water, was packaged with an OPP film bag, and was then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. The EP group had a significantly high level of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and carbon dioxide, and low total bacteria counts, pH, and oxygen. The sensory score of color in the EP group recorded a high value, but the EE and EP groups recorded low scores in aroma and taste during the storage period. Alcohol and phytoncide were vaporized by opening the package for two hours, and the score of the aroma and taste of EP showed no differences from those of the other groups. Based on the above results, it was determined that the phytoncide essential oil diluted in edible alcohol with 1% solution inhibited the browning of and microbial growth in fresh-cut lettuce, and will be a useful natural compound in maintaining the quality of fresh-cut produce.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

This study was conducted to extract the factors affecting the microbial safety of leaf and stem vegetables in the high school foodservice and to provide information for supplying the safe foodservice menu. The lunch and dinner menu (1,945 data) of the total 6 high schools at the Central and the South Region in March, June, September, and December were collected. The frequency analysis and the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) based on the 3 factors (potentially hazardous food (PHF), leafy and stem vegetables in the menu, the cooking methods) were conducted. The most frequent PHF was the menu of blanched vegetables, salads, seaweeds and fried chicken. The most frequent consumed leaf and stem vegetables were spinach, chive, lettuce, Western cabbage, perilla leaf, iceberg lettuce, chicory, leek and broccoli. MCA based on the leaf and stem vegetables, the region, and the cooking method (cooked/non-cooked) showed that garlic stem and spinach were more used in the Central Region, while water drop-wort were more used in the South Region. Iceberg lettuce, Bok choy and leek were included frequently in the PHF menu. Plant products frequently used in PHF menu requires the food safety system such as Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) to reduce the microbial risk. The menu database according to raw materials based on cooking methods (heating or mixing) as well as the development and verification of menu based on the microbial safety will be contributed to provide the safer foodservice menu.