• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.360-368
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• 2013

Recently interactive water fountains are gaining popularity in making public facilities in South Korea. The total number of interactive fountains is rapidly growing at the rate of >50% annually. In this study, we performed quantitative microbial risk assessment to estimate infection risks in children by Legionella spp. while playing in interactive fountains. The exposure dose for a given concentration of Legionella in water was calculated using water-aerosol partition rate of Legionella, exposure duration, inhalation rate, and deposit rate of aerosols in the lungs following inhalation. The dose was converted to infection risk by using the dose-response function developed for L. pneumophila. High weight and/or old children, i.e., 12-year children, running around in fountains were the highest risk group by showing >0.05 infection probability for fountain waters containing ${\geq}10^4$ CFU/L Legionella. The result supported the current guideline by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which permits use of water with < $10^3$ CFU/L Legionella cells for all purposes. However, the results still warrant further evaluation of the guideline to accommodate risks for children because the dose-response relationship in the model was developed for healthy adults. Further risk assessment studies need to be conducted by employing dose-response model for children who generally carries weaker immune system than adults.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1024-1039
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• 2023

In this study, we performed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Salmonella through intake of egg consumption after cooking (dry-heat, moist-heat, and raw consumption). Egg samples (n = 201) from retail markets were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella. In addition, temperature and time were investigated during egg transit, storage, and display. A predictive model was developed to characterize the kinetic behavior of Salmonella in eggs, and data on egg consumption and frequency were collected. Eventually, the data was simulated to estimate egg-related foodborne illnesses. Salmonella was not found in any of the 201 egg samples. Thus, the estimated initial contamination level was -4.0 Log CFU/g. With R² values of 0.898 and 0.922, the constructed predictive models were adequate for describing the fate of Salmonella in eggs throughout distribution and storage. Eggs were consumed raw (1.5%, 39.2 g), dry-heated (57.5%, 43.0 g), and moist-heated (41%, 36.1 g). The probability of foodborne Salmonella illness from the consumption of cooked eggs was evaluated to be 6.8×10^-10. Additionally, the probability of foodborne illness not applied cooking methods was 1.9×10^-7, indicating that Salmonella can be reduced by cooking. Therefore, the risk of Salmonella infection through consumption of eggs after cooking might be low in S. Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.484-491
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• 2005

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) analyzes potential hazard of microorganisms on public health and offers structured approach to assess risks associated with microorganisms in foods. This paper addresses specific risk management questions associated with Staphylococcus aureus in kimbab and improvement and dissemination of QMRA methodology, QMRA model was developed by constructing four nodes from retail to table pathway. Predictive microbial growth model and survey data were combined with probabilistic modeling to simulate levels of S. aureus in kimbab at time of consumption, Due to lack of dose-response models, final level of S. aureus in kimbeb was used as proxy for potential hazard level, based on which possibility of contamination over this level and consumption level of S. aureus through kimbab were estimated as 30.7% and 3.67 log cfu/g, respectively. Regression sensitivity results showed time-temperature during storage at selling was the most significant factor. These results suggested temperature control under $10^{\circ}C$ was critical control point for kimbab production to prevent growth of S. aureus and showed QMRA was useful for evaluation of factors influencing potential risk and could be applied directly to risk management.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2022

Dry-aging is one of the traditional aging processes, especially for beef. This aging process is being popular, because it produces unique brown/roasted flavor and texture that consumers prefer. However, as it is exposed to outside without packaging food safety concerns have been raised. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and pathogenic bacteria in manufacturing environment and suggest the safety management plan for the production of dry-aged meat. Surface samples from 66 environmental and 6 beef carcass samples were collected. According to the monitoring results, the contamination levels of TAB were in the order of shelves (5.4±1.1 Log CFU/cm²), cotton gloves (2.9±0.2 Log CFU/cm²), and door knobs (2.8±0.4 Log CFU/cm²) in the dry-aging room. In the door knobs, the level of mold was higher than that of yeast. These results indicate that the mold spores may be cross-contaminated with environmental factors inside the aging room. The risk factors that may occur during the manufacturing process were presented and possibility of risk was determined. From the aspect of microbiology, aging and trimming steps were determined as the critical control points. The temperature of the aging room should be maintained below 10℃ and the humidity below 75-85%. Based on the monitoring and the risk assessment of the dry-aging process, we prepared the safety management plan for the production of dry-aged meat, and it should be useful in improving the food safety of dry-aged meat.

• 축산식품과학과 산업
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2016

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2011

Risk ranking must be determined for various hazards/food combinations to conduct microbial risk management effectively. Risk Ranger is a simple, easy-to-use calculation tool developed in Microsoft Excel and designed to rank the risk (low, medium, and high) for semi-quantitative microbial risk assessment. The user is required to answer 11 questions in Risk Ranger related to 1) severity of the hazard, 2) likelihood of a disease-causing dose of the hazard being present in the meal, and 3) the probability of exposure to the hazard in a defined time. This study determined the risk ranking for twenty three combinations of foodborne pathogens/potentially hazardous foods (PHFs) using a Risk Ranger. In this study, pathogenic E. coli in fresh cut produce salad was scored as 79, which was the highest rank among the 23 combinations of the foodborne pathogens and PHFs. On the other hand, zero risk was obtained with V parahaemolyticus in sushi, Salmonella in meat products and E. coli O157:H7 in hamburger patties. Although Risk Ranger is very simple method to rate the risk of foodborne pathogens and PHFs combination, the accuracy of result was mainly affected by the availability and accuracy of data in the literature. According to the result of literature review, the data are needed for contamination rate of raw materials, consumption amount/frequency of PHFs, and the effect of processing on pathogen. Risk ranking must be continuously revalidated with new data.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.207-218
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• 2021

This study evaluated the risk of foodborne illness from highly pathogenic Vibrio spp. (Vibrio vulnificus and V. cholerae) by raw whip-arm octopus (Octopus minor) consumption. In total 180 samples of raw whip-arm octopus were collected from markets and examined for the prevalence of V. vulnificus and V. cholerae. Predictive models describing the kinetic behavior of Vibrio spp. in raw whip-arm octopus were developed, and the data on amounts and frequency of raw whip-arm octopus consumption were collected. Using the collected data, a risk assessment simulation was conducted to estimate the probability of foodborne illness raw whip-arm octopus consumption using @RISK. Initial contamination levels of Vibrio spp. in raw whip-arm octopus were -3.9 Log colony-forming unit/g, as estimated by beta distribution fitting. The developed predictive models were appropriate to describe Vibrio spp. in raw whip-arm octopus during distribution and storage with R² values of 0.946-0.964. The consumption frequency and daily consumption amounts of raw whip-arm octopus per person were 0.47% and 57.65 g, respectively. The probability of foodborne illness from raw whip-arm octopus consumption was estimated to be 8.71 × 10^-15 for V. vulnificus and 7.08 × 10^-13 for V. cholerae. These results suggest that the risk of Vibrio spp. infection from raw whip-arm octopus consumption is low in South Korea.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.277-287
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• 2024

Water distribution system (WDS) is exposed to various water quality incidents during its operation. This study utilized Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to analyze the risk associated with potential virus intrusion in WDSs. Additionally, the study determined the location and operation of rechlorination facilities to minimize potential risk. In addition, water quality resilience was calculated to confirm that the chlorine concentration maintains within the target range (0.1-1.0 mg/L) during normal operation. Hydraulic analysis was performed using EPANET, while EPANET-MSX was linked to simulate the reactions between viruses and chlorine. The proposed methodology was applied to the Bellingham network in the United States, where rechlorination facilities capable of injecting chlorine concentrations ranging from 0.5 mg/L to 1.0 mg/L were considered. Results indicated that without rechlorination facilities, the Average risk was 0.0154. However, installing rechlorination facilities and injecting chlorine at a concentration of 1.0 mg/L could reduce the Average risk to 39.1%. It was observed that excessive chlorine injection through rechlorination facilities reduced water quality resilience. Consequently, a rechlorination facility with a concentration of 0.5 mg/L was selected, resulting in a reduction of approximately 20% in average risk. This study provides insights for designing rechlorination facilities to enhance preparedness against potential virus ingress in the future.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2022

For the safety assessment of microbiological and chemical hazards in katsuobushi, fifteen samples of katsuobushi were purchased from supermarkets. The contamination levels of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nine pathogenic bacteria [Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Yersinia enterocolitica and Campylobacter jejuni/coli] were quantitatively or qualitatively assessed. Additionally, the heavy metals (total and methyl mercury) content, radioactivity (¹³¹ I, ¹³⁴ Cs⁺ and ¹³⁷ Cs) were quantitatively assessed. Microbial and chemical analyses were performed using standard methods in Korean food code. The contamination level of total viable bacteria was 2.70 (1.18-4.42) log CFU/g. Coliforms, E. coli and S. aureus were not detected in any samples. Other eight pathogenic bacteria were negative in all samples. The contamination levels of total and methyl mercury were 0.366 (0.227-0.481) and 0.120 (0.002-0.241) mg/kg, respectively. In addition, radioactivity was not detected in any samples. The results will be helpful in revitalizing domestic use and boosting exports of katsuobushi because the microbiological and chemical safety of katsuobushi has been assured. Furthermore, the results may be used as a basis for performing chemical and microbial risk assessments of katsuobushi.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to control the outbreak of food pathogen through quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). We used Monte Calro Simulation (MCS) to predict contamination levels of Staphylococcus aureus on the raw materials, equipments and cook in Japanese restaurant located in Seoul. The result of sensitivity analysis showed that the most significant factor for the outbreak of food pathogen was consumption temperature and storage time. In shrimp and octopus sushi, 'consumption temperature' was the highest sensitivity value of 0.419 followed by 'storage time' of 0.374. To increase safety of sushi, consumers should have sushi as soon as possible after cooking. In sushi 'storage time after cooking' was determined as Critical Control Point (CCP). To determine Control Limit (CL), Scenario Analysis (SA) was carried out. In sushi, SA was carried out using storage time as a unit condition. Safety level of S. aureus was set lower than 5 log CFU/g. After 2 hr 'storage time' the number of S. aureus increased to 3.908 log CFU/g. Therefore, 'storage time' of sushi was set as CL in case of room temperature storage.