• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2012

Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean product that provides a major source of protein. In this study, a total of 18 different home-made doenjang samples were examined for the presence of foodborne pathogens and the total aflatoxin levels. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess microbial quality and potential public health risk, we showed that total coliform levels in the doenjang samples ranged from 0 to $4.43{\pm}2.32{\times}10^6\;CFU/g$, and the maximum limit of Bacillus cereus was $4.67{\pm}2.0{\times}10^5\;CFU/g$. However, other foodborne pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp., were not detected among the tested samples. One of the samples (S3) showed a maximum limit of $42.2{\pm}9.1\;{\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxin levels, which was above the safety limit allowed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) regulatory agency. Further research is necessary to determine whether and how doenjang safety can be improved via elimination/reduction of microbial contamination during fermentation and storage or using microbial starter cultures for its fermentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.261-269
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• 2012

In this study, 18 kinds of Korean medicinal herb extracts were examined for anti-microbial activities against pathogenic microorganisms. The methanol (MeOH) extracts from Schizandra chinensis, Rhus javanica and Caesalpinia sappan exhibited antimicrobial activities against most pathogenic microorganisms at concentrations of 5 mg/mL, whereas the other 15 extracts exhibited anti-microbial activities at concentrations of 30 mg/mL. The minimum concentration at which Schizandra chinensis extracts inhibited for S. epidermidis and Bor. bronchiseptica was 0.6 mg/mL. The MeOH extracts from Schizandra chinensis, Caesalpinia sappan, Rhus javanica and Seutellaria baicalensis which had higher anti-microbial activities were subsequently fractionated using 5 different solvents, and further screened for anti-microbial activities. The inhibitory effects of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts on microbial growth were greater compared to any other solvent extracts. In order to investigate the inhibitory effect of Korean medicinal herbs with high anti-microbial activities on microbial proliferation, the MeOH extracts at concentrations of 0, 100, 300 and 500 ppm were added to the media. No addition of extracts caused rapid growth of microbes after 12 hours incubation. As the concentration of extracts from Rhus javanica and Caesalpinia sappan increased, the growth-inhibiting effect on gram-positive bacteria including S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and L. monocytogenes was prominent. Rhus javanica extracts exhibited growth-inhibiting activity for gram-negative bacteria including Sal. Pullorum and Sal. Choleraesuis. The low concentration of extracts from Rhus javanica and Caesalpinia sappan exhibited the growth of Bor. bronchiseptica and E. coli serotype $O_8$. However, the higher concentration of extracts from Rhus javanica and Caesalpinia sappan exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on microbial proliferation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2004

Fresh ground beef was mixed with ascorbic acid, basil essential oil, majoram essential oil, or each essential oil combined with ascorbic acid and stored at 1 $\pm$ 1$^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. Color, lipid oxidation (TBARS formation), aerobic bacterial counts and pH were determined. Basil and majoram essential oils were effective in inhibiting color deterioration, lipid oxidation and bacterial growth. The combined addition of basil and ascorbic acid showed the highest protection against color fading, followed by majoram + ascorbic acid, and ascorbic acid alone. Basil and majoram essential oils were most effective in delaying TBARS formation (p < ().01). Ascorbic acid did not exert an antioxidative effect and even exhibited a pro-oxidant effect. The pH values of all samples increased slightly, but no significant differences were observed, either among treatments or throughout the storage time (p > 0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.849-859
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• 2016

Edible insects have gained recognition worldwide as complementary protein sources. Recently, four edible insects were newly allowed to be used as food materials in Korea: the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), the cricket (Velarifictorus asperses), the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva (Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis), and the rhinoceros beetle larva (Allomyrina dichotoma). In this study, we evaluated the oxidative stabilities of these four edible insects during cold storage. The insects were sacrificed by blanching for 3 minutes in boiling water. The blanched insects were then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ in an incubator for 42 days. The color values, titratable acidity, peroxide values, acid values, TBARS, contents of VBN, and total plate counts of the insects were measured at days 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, respectively. Blanching decreases oxidative stresses during storage. At day 0, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva showed the highest values for acid value, TBARS, VBN, and microbial counts. Most of the oxidative indicators were significantly changed at day 14 in all four insects, possibly related with the growth on all microbial plates. Based on microbial safety and the oxidative stabilities of lipids and proteins, optimal storage conditions for the cricket, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva, and the rhinoceros beetle larva were 10~14 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Likewise, the mealworm showed rapid oxidation after day 14, but poor qualities were not observed until day 28.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.569-586
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• 2017

We inoculated a spent mushroom substrate from Flammulina velutipes (SMSF) with a microbial additive and assessed the effects on chemical composition, ruminal fermentation parameters, and total-tract nutrient digestibility. In Exp. 1, three cannulated Hanwoo steers were used in an in situ trial to determine the degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). In Exp. 2, three Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to experimental diets according to a $3{\times}3$ Latin square for a 3-week period (2 weeks for adaptation and 1 week for sample collection). Experimental diets included the control diet (3.75 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw), SMSF diet (3.19 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw + 0.56 kg/d SMSF), and inoculated SMSF (ISMSF) diet (3.19 kg/d formulated concentrate mixture + 1.25 kg/d rice straw + 0.56 kg/d ISMSF). The chemical composition of ISMSF did not differ from that of SMSF. Microbial additive inoculation decreased pH (P<0.05) and improved preservation for SMSF. The percentages of DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in ISMSF were slightly lesser than those in SMSF. Ruminal fermentation characteristics and total-tract nutrient digestibility were not affected by diet. Overall, microbial additive inoculation improved preservation for SMSF and may allow improved digestion in the rumen; however, the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of SMSF and ISMSF diets were slightly lesser than the control diet. The ISMSF can be used as an alternative feedstuff to partially replace formulated concentrate feed.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.6 s.84
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• pp.684-694
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to estimate the microbial and physicochemical quality of some raw vegetables and suggest safer methods of sanitization and storage for foodservice operations. Three sanitization methods were utilized during pre-preparation (tap water, chlorine water and electrolyzed water). Leek and Chicory were monitored as ingredient, with different storage temperatures $(3,\;10^{\circ}C)$ and periods (1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 days). The largest reduction in the microbial counts was shown with the electrolyzed water and for the case before immersion in chlorine water, performing a first washing was more effective in reducing the microbial counts than with no washing. The results showed that the storage temperature, pH, moisture content and microbial loads were important factors affecting the quality of vegetables.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.22 no.4 s.94
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• pp.504-513
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• 2006

This study was performed to provide basic data for the operation of a safer cook-chill system by comparing and evaluating the quality of food prepared using the sous vide cook-chill(SVCC) and cook-chill(CC) systems, according to the preparation methods and storage temperature. When the effects of preparation methods and storage temperatures on the physicochemical and microbial qualities were analyzed, the following results were obtained. Firstly, the microbial risk was reduced and the food was raised when danhopark tzeam were prepared with SVCC compared with CC in which changes in pH and Aw and moisture content loss were less than with SVCC. Secondly, the storage period tested in this study was limited to only 10 days, which prevented any significant difference from being seen at 3$^{\circ}$C and 10$^{\circ}$C in the degradation of food quality when SVCC and CC were compared. However, the overall quality and safety as indicated by the physicochemical and microbial qualities at 10$^{\circ}$C were relatively low for and with CC, suggesting that SVCC is a more effective method, probably because vacuum packing eliminates oxygen in the food, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1444-1452
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• 2007

An in vitro experiment was conducted to evaluate the differences in microbial activity of five faecal inocula from weaned pigs and one faecal inoculum from unweaned pigs in combination with 6 substrates. The substrates tested were negative control diet, corn, soybean meal, oligofructose (OF), ground chicory roots and a mixture (60% chicory pulp and 40% OF). The inocula used were derived from pigs fed either a corn-soy based diet without antibiotics (NCON), the NCON diet supplemented with oligofructose (OF), a mixture of chicory pulp (40%) and OF (60%) (MIX), ground chicory roots (CHR) or the NCON diet supplemented with antibiotics (PCON). The cumulative gas production measured fermentation kinetics and end products, such as total gas production, ammonia and volatile fatty acids, were also determined. Both the substrate and the inoculum significantly affected the fermentation characteristics. The cumulative gas production curve showed that different substrates caused more differences in traits of fermentation kinetics than the different inocula. Inocula of weaned pigs gave a significantly higher VFA production compared to the inoculum from unweaned animals, whilst the rate of fermentation and the total gas produced did not differ. OF showed the highest fermentation kinetics and the lowest $NH_3$, pH and OM loss compared to other substrates. It was concluded that the microbial activity was significantly affected by substrate and inoculum. Inoculum from weaned pigs had more potential for microbial fermentation of the carbohydrate ingredients and oligofructose than that of unweaned pigs. A combination of high and low polymer inulin may be more beneficial to the gut ecosystem than using high- or low-polymer inulin alone.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.157-171
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• 2006

This study was intended to suggest HACCP-based standard recipe for bellflower roots, classified as no thermal cooking process, served in a university foodservice operation. The time-temperature and microbial contamination level in each cooking step were analyzed. The temperatures of bellflower root, peeled garlic and green onion at receiving were at 13.8$\pm$2.8, 12.6$\pm$2.9 and 13.7$\pm$$0.8^\circC$ respectively, which were above the temperature limit. The time consumed for pre-preparation was up to 90 min at room temperature having high microbial growth potential. The levels of total plate counts (TPC) of bellflower root and garlic were over the limit of $10^6$ CFU/g as were the numbers of coliforms in bellflower roots. There were no microbial reductions in pre-preparation and cooking, which resulted in over $10^5$- $10^6$ CFU/g of TPC at service step. Two CCPs identified were washing/sanitation at pre-preparation and service steps. The control measures were washing/sanitation and temperature control. It was verified that CCPs for no cooking process developed in preceding studies were applicable for the microbiological food safety of this menu item. The HACCP-based standard recipe was developed to produce a quantity for 100 servings by observing the critical limits established for CCPs. These results suggest that the selection of proper provider is imperative to control the microbial contamination of raw materials at purchasing step. Also, the sanitary education program should be developed for the employees to understand and comply the HACCP plan and standard recipe.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.760-770
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• 2023

Continuous cropping obstacles have become a serious factor restricting sustainable development in modern agriculture, while companion planting is one of the most common and effective methods for solving this problem. Here, we monitored the effects of companion planting on soil fertility and the microbial community distribution pattern in pepper monoculture and companion plantings. Soil microbial communities were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. Companion plants included garlic (T1), oat (T2), cabbage (T3), celery (T4), and white clover (T5). The results showed that compared with the monoculture system, companion planting significantly increased the activities of soil urease (except for T5) and sucrase, but decreased catalase activity. In addition, T2 significantly improved microbial diversity (Shannon index) while T1 resulted in a decrease of bacterial OTUs and an increase of fungal OTUs. Companion planting also significantly changed soil microbial community structures and compositions. Correlation analysis showed that soil enzyme activities were closely correlated with bacterial and fungal community structures. Moreover, the companion system weakened the complexity of microbial networks. These findings indicated that companion plants can provide nutrition to microbes and weaken the competition among them, which offers a theoretical basis and data for further research into methods for reducing continuous cropping obstacles in agriculture.