• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1502-1509
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of combined treatments (slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), ultrasound (US), or mild heat (60℃)) on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in fresh-cut bell pepper, and the shelf-life and sensory quality (color and texture) were followed during storage at 4℃ and 25℃. An additional 0.65, 1.72, and 2.70 log CFU/g reduction was achieved by heat treatments at 60℃ for 1 min for DW, SAEW, and SAEW+US, respectively. Regardless of the type of pathogen, the combined treatment (SAEW+US+60℃) achieved a significantly (p < 0.05) longer lag time in all treatment groups. This combined treatment also prolonged the shelf-life of bell pepper up to 8 days and 30 h for the storage at 4℃ and 25℃, respectively. There was also no significant difference in the color and hardness of treated (SAEW+US+60℃) bell pepper from that of control during the storage. This new hurdle approach is thus expected to improve the microbial safety of bell peppers during storage and distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.586-592
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• 2011

The storage quality of soybean sprouts washed with various electrolyzed waters was investigated. The washing solutions consisted of tap water (TW), sodium hypochlorite electrolyzed water (SHEW), and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW). The number of bacteria on the soybean sprouts after 5 min of exposure to TW, SHEW, and SAEW resulted in >0.5, 2.0, and 2.0 log CFU/g reductions, respectively. At both $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, the number of bacteria, weight loss ratio, and b value rapidly increased, and pH and L value rapidly decreased in soybean sprouts washed with TW. Whereas, the number of bacteria, pH, weight loss ratio, and color slowly changed in the soybean sprouts washed with SHEW and SAEW. Consequently, these results indicate that washing with electrolyzed water is an effective means of maintaining the quality and enhancing the shelf-life of soybean sprouts; both SHEW and SAEW reduced bacterial growth without affecting the other properties of soybean sprouts during storage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1830-1841
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• 2012

We investigated the changes in microbial and physicochemical characteristics of the raw materials of Saengsk (brown rice, barley, carrot, potato, Angelica utilis Makino and kale) during storage after treatment with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW). To confirm the antimicrobial effects of the treatment washing solutions as well as the physicochemical changes in chromaticity, we stored the raw materials of Saengsik for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days at storage temperatures of 4, 10, 15, 20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$ in a shelf-life study. The effects of microbial inhibition were higher in carrot treated with SAEW than in that treated with NaOCl, as indicated by a 1.75 log CFU/g reduction. Moreover, a 1.54 log CFU/g reduction of total coliforms was achieved in brown rice in response to SAEW treatment, which was higher than NaOCl treatment at all storage temperatures and periods. The lightness, redness and yellowness values of the raw materials of Saengsik were not significantly affected by SAEW treatments, except for Angelica utilis Makino and kale, whereas SAEW treatment resulted in decreased chromaticity values when compared to the NaOCl treatment. Overall, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the efficacy of the SAEW and NaOCl treatments. These results indicate that washing with SAEW is an effective method to reduce the microorganisms and enhance the shelf-life of raw materials of Saengsik; therefore, it can be effectively used to sanitize ingredients of Saengik without affecting the other properties during storage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1846-1853
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• 2010

The storage attributes of green juice prepared by washing Angelica keiskei with various washing solutions using air bubble method were investigated. The washing solutions were distilled water (DW), sodium hypochlorite electrolyzed water (SHEW), and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW). During storage at $4^{\circ}C$, the number of bacteria after 1 day was $>10^5$ CFU/mL when DW was used, whereas bacterial growth was $<10^5$ CFU/mL after 4 days when SHEW or SAEW was used. The pH and color were not changed, and the polyphenol content, electron donating ability and total antioxidant ability were decreased slowly with the increase of storage time. No significant difference in any of the measured properties was found among washing methods (p<0.05). Consequently, these results suggest the possible use of electrolyzed water for washing to enhance the shelf life of green juice with A. keiskei because SHEW and SAEW decreased bacterial growth without affecting other properties of the green juice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.269-276
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the inactivation effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on microorganisms attached to salted Chinese cabbage and food materials of kimchi, such as slice radish and green onion. In addition, changes in microbial and physicochemical quality of manufactured kimchi during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks were investigated. Compared to the untreated control with tap water, total bacterial counts (TBC) of Chinese cabbage, slice radish, and green onion were reduced by 1.75, 1.68, and 1.03 log CFU/g at dipping times of 20 min, 5 min, and 10 min, respectively, upon treatment with 30 ppm SAEW at $40^{\circ}C$. Effect of microbial inhibition was higher in salted Chinese cabbage brined in 10% salt (w/v) of 30 pm SAEW at $40^{\circ}C$ than in untreated control with tap water, as indicated by 1.00 log CFU/g reduction. TBC of kimchi manufactured with materials treated with 30 ppm SAEW at $40^{\circ}C$ was not significantly affected compared to untreated control, although coliforms were remarkably reduced compared to the untreated control. At the beginning of storage (1 weeks), TBC and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased by approximately 9 and 7.66~8.18 log CFU/g, respectively, and coliforms were completely eliminated. The pH and acidity of kimchi at 2 weeks were 4.34~4.49 and 0.55~0.66%, respectively, and then slowly decreased. The texture (firmness) of kimchi decreased with storage time, but the difference was not significant. This combined treatment might be considered as a potentially beneficial sanitizing method for improving the quality and safety of kimchi.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.105-108
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• 2020

These days abattoirs' hygiene of Korea is regulated by Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). Although 20 years have been left since first HACCP was adjusted in Korea, 12% of abattoirs got inconsistence on evaluations. Food poisoning caused by bacteria feces like pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella has not decreased. These bacteria on meat cross-contaminate at the abattoir. Therefore, field verification of abattoir's critical control point (CCP) and experiments to find alternative ways of the CCP were conducted. The aerobic bacteria were measured before and after high-pressure water based washing process set as CCP in most abattoirs. Four parts of cattle carcasses were selected to apply sponge-swab method. The effects were < 1 log reduction which is not significant. Lactic acid (LC), chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) were used to measure the effect of reducing bacteria on beef by the different time. LC has 1.24-2.02 log reduction for aerobic bacteria. ClO₂ has 1.44-1.96 log reduction for aerobic bacteria. SAEW has 1.1-1.91 log reduction for aerobic bacteria. There was significant difference according to concentrations (p < 0.05). This study presents legitimacy for hygiene improvement of CCP by field verification. In addition, chemical disinfectants that can be mechanically applied have better reduction effects of high-pressure washing.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2022

The consumption of Flammulina velutipes mushroom imported from Korea has been associated with the cases of listeriosis in the United States, Canada, and Australia. We investigated the effect of sanitizing the plastic wrapper (used in packaging F. velutipes) with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and ultraviolet C waterproof light-emitting diode (UVC-W-LED) on reducing the Listeria monocytogenes. Further, the effect of UVC-LED on L. monocytogenes growth in F. velutipes at different storage temperatures (2, 4, and 10℃) was determined. The combined (SAEW+UVC-W-LED) treatment for 5-10 min reduced 99.9% of bacterial population from the contaminated plastic wrapper. In addition, the UVC-LED treatment for 3 min reduced the L. monocytogenes concentration in F. velutipes by 0.47 log CFU/g. Moreover, the growth of L. monocytogenes in the treated mushrooms was slower than that of the untreated (control) ones. L. monocytogenes concentration in F. velutipes increased over 3 log CFU/g at 2℃ and 10℃ for 60 and 10 days, respectively. The growth of L. monocytogenes at the bottom of mushrooms was faster than that at the top at both the temperatures. These results indicate that the combined SAEW+UVC-W-LED treatment of plastic wrappers and the UVC-LED treatment of mushrooms can be used as potential hurdle technologies to control the risk of L. monocytogenes in mushrooms prior to packaging at farms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.622-633
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• 2024

For quality standardization, the application of functional lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as starter cultures for food fermentation is a well-known method in the fermented food industry. This study assessed the effect of adding a non-thermally microbial inactivated starter culture to kimchi, a traditional Korean food, in standardizing its quality. In this study, pretreatment based on sterilization processes, namely, slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) disinfection and ultraviolet C light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) of raw and subsidiary kimchi materials were used to reduce the initial microorganisms in them, thereby increasing the efficiency and value of the kimchi LAB starter during fermentation. Pretreatment sterilization effectively suppressed microorganisms that threatened the sanitary value and quality of kimchi. In addition, pretreatment based on sterilization effectively reduced the number of initial microbial colonies in kimchi, creating an environment in which kimchi LAB starters could settle or dominate, compared to non-sterilized kimchi. These differences in the initial microbial composition following the sterilization process and the addition of kimchi LAB starters led to differences in the metabolites that positively affect the taste and flavor of kimchi. The combined processing technology used in our study, that is, pre-sterilization and LAB addition, may be a powerful approach for kimchi quality standardization.