• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.26-38
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• 1997

The quality changes of hams and sausages in refrigerated storage were investigated. Seven types of hams and six types of sausages produced in Korea were collected from markets and stored at 1$0^{\circ}C$ according to the Food Code of Korea, and then chemical, microbiological, textural and sensory characteristics were evaluated at 30, 40 and 50 days. The proximal analysis showed considerable variation in fat with less variation in moisture and protein. The pH values of hams and sausages slightly changed with no consistent difference. Water activity values of all samples except one type of sausage were consistent over time in refrigerated storage. No purge losses of hams were observed except two types of samples in the intial stage. Several types of sausages showed purge losses with no consistency and one type of sausage showed consistent purge losses (0.44~11.29%) during the storage. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content of hams and sausages was still within 20 mg% (Standard and Specification of Korea) on the 50th day, although the VBN of all samples significantly increased over time (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values of hams and sausages were well below 1.0 during the storage, although the TBA values of all samples significantly increased (p<0.05). However it was noticed that one type of ham and two types of sausages showed TBA values of 0.945, 0.928 and 0.978, respectively. All the standard plate counts (SPCs) of hams during the storage period showed a level below 30 CFU/g except one type of sample with 103 CFU/g at 50 days. All the SPCs of sausages showed a level below 50 CFU/g except one type of sample with 102 CFU/g and two types of samples with 104 CFU/g on the 50th day. Coliform groups were not counted in all samples during the storage. Instrumental texture analysis showed that springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, gumminess and adhesiveness slightly changed with no consistent difference. The hardness of the hams showed a decreasing tendency, and the hardness of the sausages an increasing tendency with no significant difference. Sensory evaluation for color, flavor, taste, texture and overall acceptability showed decreasing tendencies over time (p<0.05). The scores of the five sensory characteristics maintained the medium level of quality at the termination of the experiment. Although the results indicated that the ham and sausage samples were acceptable after the 50 days' storage at 1$0^{\circ}C$, the shelf-life of the samples should be determined considering the rapid growth of bacteria and the high TBA values at 50 days.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.576-582
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• 2017

This study evaluated the microbial quality of dried and powdered foods during storage with increased humidity because of climate change. Five types of dried and powdered foods (dried shredded squid, wheat flour, Sunsik, red pepper powder, and roasted sesame seed) were stored at different relative humidities (RH 23%, 43%, 68%, 85%, and 100%) and changes in water activity and microbial populations were measured during storage at $35^{\circ}C$ for 15 days. The results revealed that water activity values of dried and powdered foods were significantly increased during storage when samples were stored at RH 85 and 100%. In addition, levels of total mesophilic bacteria, yeast, and mold were significantly increased after storage for 6 days or 9 days at RH 85% and 100%. However, levels of Escherichia coli and coliform did not increase significantly during storage. Based on these findings, dried and powdered foods should not be stored at high RH because the increased water activity enables microbial growth.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.10 s.188
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• pp.101-116
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• 2003

The study was conducted to establish hygienic standards of salad items for pizza restaurant located in Seoul by applying HACCP system during the summer of 2000. The study measured temperature, time, pH, Aw and microbial assessments. The hygienic conditions of the kitchen and workers were on the average(1.21, 1.0 out of 3 pts.), but some improvement should be made: separate use of trash can and leftover disposal, separate use of knives and cutting boards, habits for hand washing and wearing hygienic gloves. For salad production, all procedures were peformed under food safety danger zone ($5{\~}60^{\circ}C$). The ingredients were mostly above pH 5.0 and high in Aw($0.94{\~}0.99$). Microbial assessments for salad production revealed that TPC($1.8{\times}10^3{\~}1.0{\times}10^{10}CFU/g$) and coliforms($1.5{\times}10{\~}5.2{\times}10^5 CFU/g$) exceeded the standards by Solberg et al.(TPC: $10^6CFU/g$, coliforms: $10^3CFU/g$). S. aureus was not detected but Salmonella was found in three food items(egg, macaroni and macaroni salad). Moreover, the workers' hands contained 3.1 104 CFU/g of TPC and 4.2 102 CFU/g of S. aureus requiring further remedy since it exceeded the safety standards suggested by Harrigan and McCance (500 CFU/g of TPC per $100cm^2$ and 10 CFU/g of coliforms per $100cm^2$). According to the critical control point(CCP) decision tree analysis, vegetable receiving, vegetable holding, mixing, display on coleslaw, macaroni draining, display on macaroni salad, egg peeling & cutting, apple cutting, and display on salad bar were determined as CCPs. From the findings it would be suggested that purchase of Quality materials, short holding and display time, storing food at right temperature, using sanitary cooking utensils, and improvement of workers' food handing practices are needed to ensure the safe salad production in this specific pizza restaurant.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.377-381
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial safety and quality changes of Korean sliced pork jerky, and to investigate these properties over 90 days and 28 days of storage at room temperature $(25^{\circ}C)$ and elevated temperature $(35^{\circ}C)$. Based on the microbial counts of pork jerky, mesophilic bacteria were detected at 2.50 log CFU/g at day 0. The mesophilic bacterial count did not change significantly for all samples, and coliform bacteria and Bacillus cereus were not detected in any samples during storage at either $25^{\circ}C\;or\;35^{\circ}C$. The following physicochemical qualities were also investigated: TBA value, Aw, and pH. In the case of $25^{\circ}C$ storage, the Aw of Korean sliced pork jerky was 0.72 at day 0, and was reduced to 0.58 after 90 days of storage. The TBA value increased as the storage time increased, and was 0.52 after 90 days of storage. The pH of all samples did not change significantly. In the case of $35^{\circ}C$ storage, the TBA, Aw, and pH values were not significantly different from those obtained during $25^{\circ}C$ storage. In addition, the sensory properties of all samples were not significantly different between storage at the two temperatures. In conclusion, these results suggest Korean sliced pork jerky could be used to study the development of commercial pork jerky.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2007

We evaluated the microbial safety and quality characteristics of Korean slice beef jerky, and investigated these properties over 28-day and 90-day storage periods at room temperature ($25^{\circ}C$) and elevated temperature ($35^{\circ}C$). After microbial counts of all samples, mesophilic bacteria were detected at 1.23 Log CFU/g at day 0. Counts of mesophilic bacteria did not change significantly in all samples, and coliforms and Bacillus cereus were not detected in all samples during storage at either $25^{\circ}C$ or $35^{\circ}C$. TBA values, Aw, and pH were investigated. The Aw of korean slice beef jerky stored at room temperature was 0.71 at day 0, and was reduced to 0.61 after 90 days. The TBA value increased as storage time increased, and its TBA value was 0.48 after 90 days of storage. The pH of all samples did not change significantly. At $35^{\circ}C$ storage, TBA values, Aw, pH were not significantly different than those stored at $25^{\circ}C$. Also, the sensory properties of all samples were not significantly different between two storage temperatures. In conclusion, these results suggest Koran slice beef jerky ould be used as basic study for development of the commercial beef jerky.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2015

To secure the microbial safety of frozen strawberries, they were treated with the combined solution of aqueous chlorine dioxide and acetic acid prior to freezing and the effects of different freezing methods (at $-20^{\circ}C$ in a freezer, at $-70^{\circ}C$ in a gas nitrogen convection chamber, and at $-196^{\circ}C$ in liquid nitrogen) on the quality changes of strawberries were examined. Regarding the color of frozen strawberries, there were negligible changes among freezing treatments. In contrast, vitamin C content and sensory evaluation scores of strawberries frozen at $-70^{\circ}C$ were the highest among the samples. Drip loss of strawberries frozen at $-70^{\circ}C$ was the lowest as 14.39%, compared with strawberries frozen at -20 and $-196^{\circ}C$. In addition, the effects of combined treatment of 50 ppm chlorine dioxide and 1% acetic acid on the microbial growth in frozen strawberries were investigated, and the populations of preexisting microorganisms in the frozen strawberries were not detected by the combined pre-treatment. These results suggest that rapid freezing at $-70^{\circ}C$ using a gas nitrogen convection chamber is an appropriate freezing method for preserving quality of strawberries, and as a pre-freezing treatment, the combined treatment of aqueous chlorine dioxide and acetic acid can be effective for improving microbiological safety of frozen strawberries.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.325-329
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• 2014

To maintain the quality of sweet persimmon during storage, the samples were treated with a combination of 50 ppm $ClO_2$ and 0.1% fumaric acid after harvest, packaged with low density polyethylene film, and stored at $1{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 35 days. The combined treatment reduced the populations of total aerobic bacteria, yeast and molds by 1.82 and 2.07 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to the control. During storage, hardness of all samples decreased, but total soluble solids and weight loss were not significantly different among treatments. In addition, high-quality dehydrated sweet persimmon was prepared using red algae extract as a dehydrating agent. The rehydration ratio and vitamin C content of red algae extract-treated sample were greater than those of hot-air dried sample. These results suggest that the combined treatment of $ClO_2$ and fumaric acid can be useful for maintaining microbiological safety of sweet persimmon during storage and dehydration of sweet persimmon slices using red algae extract is an efficient drying method for the preparation of high-quality dehydrated sweet persimmon.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2007

The effect of irradiation on the quality characteristics of pale-soft-exudative (PSE) pork was studied. The pork loin with severe PSE appearance was selected by meat grader,irradiated at 0 and 4.5 kGy, and meat quality characteristics including pH, color, lipid oxidation development, microbial and sensory quality were analyzed during 2 weeks of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. The pH values of non-irradiated and 4.5 kGy-irradiated PSE raw pork loin was not different. Hunter color $a^*$-value, which represents redness of meat surface showed significant increase (P<0.05) in irradiated PSE pork loin. This higher Hunter color $a^*$-value maintained during 2 weeks of storage. By 4.5 kGy of irradiation, approximately 2 log reduction of total aerobic bacterial counts was achieved during 2 weeks of storage when compared with non-irradiated control. Sensory panelists prefer the color of irradiated PSE meat than that of non-irradiated control because of redness. From the results, it is possible to use an irradiation technology to improve not only microbiological safety but also the color of meat which has severe defect such as PSE.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

The effects of electron beam (e-beam) irradiation at up to 10 kGy on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of dried red pepper powders were studied. Samples from Korea, China, and Vietnam were included in this study. In untreated samples, the total number of microbes, such as total aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, was in the range of $10^6-10^7CFU/g$. E-beam irradiation at 5 kGy reduced the microbial load by 2-4 log cycles, thus improving the hygienic quality of the samples. Moisture and pH of the samples were unchanged after e-beam irradiation. Reducing sugar content decreased at 1 kGy, followed by a gradual increase at higher radiation doses. At 5 kGy, no significant changes in the content of capsaicinoids were observed between the irradiated and control samples, while a 10 kGy dose led to a significant decrease. The content of pigments did not exhibit apparent changes with increasing dose of irradiation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2012

A total of 187 samples of leafy vegetables and fruits were acquired at traditional markets and department stores in Seoul, Korea. Samples were tested for microorganism distributions and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 2.5 and 9.4 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from the dropwort. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of the mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between 1.0 and 7.8 log CFU/g were found in 90.9% of the samples. Microbiological counts for fruits were very low. $Escherichia$ $coli$ was isolated in 24 (12.8%) samples. $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ and $Clostridium$ $perfringens$ contamination were found in 15 (8.0%) and 20 (10.7%) samples. $Salmonella$ species and $Listeria$ $monocytogenes$ were detected in 2.7 and 0.5% of samples, respectively. Among the total 187 samples, 8 samples were contaminated by more than two pathogens. $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 was not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels determined in the present study may be used as the primary data to execute microbial risk assessment of fresh vegetables and fruits.