• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to evaluate microbiological contamination of leafy vegetables. Total aerobic bacteria and coliforms were monitored to get the contamination levels and Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni to detect pathogens with risk of foodpoisoning from fresh vegetables. The colony count of total aerobes and coliforms was also performed to determine the efficacy of washing with tab water by common consumers. 124 samples which are divided into 8 kinds of vegetables - Sesame leaf, Dropwort, Chinese cabbage, Korean leek, Lettuce, Crown daisy, Pimpinella brachycarpa, Chicory were sampled in 2 wholesale markets in Incheon. Mean counts of total aerobic bacteria for individual vegetables ranged from $2.2\times10^6\;CFU/g\;to\;6.0\times10^7\;CFU/g$ and total coliforms were from $4.1\times10^5\;CFU/g\;to\;9.8\times10^6\;CFU/g$. Both show the peaks in summer on this study from March to September. Decrease rates after washing with tab water averaged 81.0% and 82.5% in total aerobic bacteria and coliform counts respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated 8.1%, Bacillus cereus 14.5%, Clostridium perfringens 5.6%, Escherichia coli 18.5%. 11 samples showed overlapped bacterial contamination. For respective vegetables Staphylococcus aureus isolated from 0.0% to 22.2%, Bacillus cereus from 0.0% to 29.4%, Clostridium perfringens from 0.0% to 23.1 %, Escherichia. coli from 0.0% to 35.0%. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni were not isolated. This study is expected to be available as the reference for the basal data of pathogens in fresh vegetables.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2011

This study was performed to evaluate the microbial contamination level of meat processing in butcher's shops in Seoul from January to November in 2010. A total of 695 samples (112 cotton work gloves, 342 utensils and equipments, 241 meat samples) were collected and the environmental hygiene of 89 butcher's shops was investigated. The aerobic plate count (APC), E. coli and pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. were tested in the samples. As a result, the level of count on APC ranged $0{\sim}2.2{\times}10^6\;CFU/cm^2$ from the utensils & equipments, $1{\times}10^2{\sim}2.7{\times}10^8$ CFU/glove from the cotton work gloves and $1{\times}10^2{\sim}9.3{\times}10^6$ CFU/g from the meat samples. The level of count on E. coli ranged $0{\sim}2.5{\times}10^3\;CFU/cm^2$ from the utensils, $0{\sim}8.6{\times}10^4$ CFU/glove from the cotton work gloves and $0{\sim}1.4{\times}10^5$ CFU/g from the meat samples, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. were detected in 11 samples and 2 samples from the cotton work gloves, utensils & equipments, respectively. The sanitation standard operating procedure (SSOP) was applicated at 49 butcher's shops. In order to improve sanitation of meat in butcher's shops, in this study, applications of SSOP, systemic sanitation education for employees, hygenic control of utensils & equipments, and continuous monitoring for microorganisms will be required.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.591-596
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• 2014

This study evaluated the effect of sodium diacetate and sodium lactate solutions for reducing the cell count of Pseudomonas spp. in frankfurters and hams. A mixture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCCP10338, NCCP10250, and NCCP11229), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (KACC10323 and KACC10326) was inoculated on cooked frankfurters and ham. The inoculated samples were immersed into control (sterile distilled water), sodium diacetate (5 and 10%), sodium lactate (5 and 10%), 5% sodium diacetate + 5% sodium lactate, and 10% sodium diacetate + 10% sodium lactate for 0-10 min. Inoculated frankfurters and ham were also immersed into acidified (pH 3.0) solutions such as acidified sodium diacetate (5 and 10%), and acidified sodium lactate (5 and 10%) in addition to control (acidified distilled water) for 0-10 min. Total aerobic plate counts for Pseudomonas spp. were enumerated on Cetrimide agar. Significant reductions (ca. 2 Log CFU/g) in Pseudomonas spp. cells on frankfurters and ham were observed only for a combination treatment of 10% sodium lactate + 10% sodium diacetate. When the solutions were acidified to pH 3.0, the total reductions of Pseudomonas spp. were 1.5-4.0 Log CFU/g. The order of reduction amounts of Pseudomonas spp. cell counts was 10% sodium lactate > 5% sodium lactate ${\geq}$ 10% sodium diacetate > 5% sodium diacetate > control for frankfurters, and 10% sodium lactate > 5% sodium lactate > 10% sodium diacetate > 5% sodium diacetate > control for ham. The results suggest that using acidified food additive antimicrobials, as dipping solutions, should be useful in reducing Pseudomonas spp. on frankfurters and ham.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2016

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dry aging on the quality of pork loin. Longissimus lumborum muscles were dissected from the right half of five pork carcasses and were used as the control samples. The left halves of the carcasses were aged at 2±1℃ and a relative humidity of 80% for 40 d. The total aerobic bacteria count was similar between the control and dry-aged pork loin (p>0.05). Lactic-acid bacteria was absent in both the control and dry-aged pork loins. Dry-aged pork loin contained low moisture and high protein and ash compared to the controls (p<0.05). The pH was higher and cooking loss was lower in dry-aged pork loin compared to that in the control (p<0.05). Flavor related compounds, such as total free amino acid, hypoxanthine, and inosine of pork loin were higher in dry-aged pork loin; whereas, inosine 5'-monophosphate and guanosine 5'-monophosphate were low in dry-aged pork loin than control (p<0.05). There was no difference in carnosine and anserine content between dry-aged pork loin and the control (p>0.05). Dry-aged pork loin had lower hardness and shear force and received higher core in sensory evaluation than the control (p<0.05). According to the results, dry aging improved textural and sensorial quality of pork loin.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.95-107
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• 2010

Hand-washing is one of the major factors in personal hygiene and public health. This study was undertaken to investigate the hygienic behavior of food-service employees, focusing on awareness of hand washing, hand washing practices, and the load of index microorganisms (aerobic plate count, total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) on the hands of food-service employees. A questionnaire survey completed by direct interview, direct observation of restrooms by the researcher and trained observers, and microbiological examination according to the Food Code of Korea were carried out. In the survey, a positive attitude toward hand washing compliance was reported; however, improper hand washing and poor hand hygiene of the food-service employees were seen under direct observation. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the questionnaire survey and the direct observations in hand washing compliance after using the toilet, duration of hand washing, use of hand washing agents, use of hand washing tools, washing of different parts of the hands, hand-drying method, temperature of water, and method of turning off the water. Samples taken from employees' hands before washing showed higher levels of bacteria than those taken during work and/or after washing (p<0.05). Poor hand washing practices were indicated by the positive results for total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, and S. aureus on the hands of some food-service employees. This study showed that there is a marked difference between the food-service employees' awareness of hand-washing and their actual hand-washing practices. The poor hand hygiene of and improper hand washing by the food-service employees should be addressed for improved food safety.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to assess bacterial distribution concerned in sanitation management of public lavatory in Seoul. Methods: In this research, bacteriological investigation on public lavatory was accomplished for bidet water, bidet nozzle, washbowl and lavatory stool in the 50 public facilities such as public institutions, subway stations, cinema, department stores, large-scale buildings and hospitals amount to 374 specimens. Results: The geometric mean of colony forming unit(CFU) in total aerobic colony count were analyzed as follows; $5.2{\times}10^2/100cm^2$ on lavatory stool, $7.2{\times}10^3/ea$ on bidet nozzle, $7.8{\times}10^3/ea$ on center ring of washbowl, $1.4{\times}10/mL$ in bidet water (ml) and 7.0/ea on doorknob. Opportunistically pathogenic germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated in 3.7%, 5.9%, 3.2% and 1.9% of total specimens, respectively. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that there were some facilities where the pathogenic germs were detected to may cause urological infection. And the CFU of general bacteria as the representative indicator of disinfection and lavatory cleaning were high enough to imply the improvement of sanitation management of public lavatories should be contrived.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 1984

Chemical and microbial changes during Kimchi (a group of Korean seasoned pickles) fermentation were carried out at various temperatures and salt concentrations. The time reaching optimum ripening of Kimchi varied depending upon fermentation temperature and salt concentration. At high temperature and low salt content Kimchi fermentation was faster than at low temperature and high salt content. The ratio of volatile to non-volatile acids reached its maximum at the optimum ripening time of Kimchi and decreased thereafter. Leu. mesenteroids, Lac. brevis, Lac. plantarum, Ped. cerevisiae, Str. faecalis and low acid producing Lactobacilli were isolated from Kimchi samples. However, the main microorganism responsible for Kimchi fermentation was Leu. mesenteroides and Lac. plantarum was the main acidifying organism. Total viable count increased rapidly in the beginning of fermentation and reached its maximum number at optimum ripening time and then decreased slowly as the acidity of Kimchi increased. While the total aerobic bacteria and fungi decreased during Kimchi fermentation, the yeast increased significantly at lower temperature.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2014

This study examined microbiological contamination of street foods(kimbab, fish cake, Korean sausage) by microbiological analysis. A collection of 360 samples of street foods was obtained seasonally in four major cities(Seoul, Daejeon, Busan, Gwangju) in Korea. Aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 1.0 and 9.9 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from Kimbab. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between <1.0 and 7.5 log CFU/g were found in 53.6% of samples. Escherichia coli 4.4%, Staphylococcus aureus 7.8% and Clostridium perfringens 3.3%. Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. Kimbab purchased in spring and summer showed higher S. aureus and Cl. perfringens contamination rates. Microbial contamination levels determined in the present study may be used as the primary data to execute microbial risk assessment of street foods.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.560-564
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to assess the microbiological quality and prevalence of pathogens in organic vegetables produced in Korea. A total of 189 organically grown vegetable samples (perilla leaf 50, lettuce 50, tomato 39, cucumber 50) were analyzed for the presence of aerobic plate count, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Yersinia enterocolitica. The total aerobic plate counts were in the range of 4.2 to $7.7log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for perilla leaf, 5.0 to $8.0log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for lettuce, 4.0 to $7.5log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for tomato, and 6.6 to $8.6log\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for cucumber. The highest counts were found in cucumber. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and Y. enterocolitica were not detected from any organically grown vegetable samples. This research suggests that continuous monitoring in organic vegetables is required to improve fresh produce safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.687-693
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined treatment effect of gamma irradiation and rosemary extract powder on ready-to-eat hamburger steaks. After irradiation at 5, 10 and 20 k㏉, hamburger steaks manufactured with rosemary extract powder (200 and 500 ppm) were stored at 5$^{\circ}C$ for 4 months and at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks. Total aerobic bacteria count of the ready-to-eat hamburger steak was approximately 5 log CFU/g level. All doses of gamma irradiation were effective in reducing the population of total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria in hamburger steaks. In hamburger steaks irradiated at 20 k㏉, tile microbial growth was not observed during storage. The shelf-life of hamburger steaks were determined by microbiological counts of 10$^{6}$ ∼10$^{7}$ CFU/g and those of the steaks irradiated at 0, 5 and 10 k㏉ were ranged among 14, 28∼42 and 98∼112 days, respectively. The shelf-life of both irradiated hamburger steaks added with 500 ppm rosemary extract powder at 5 and 10 k㏉ was extended more 14 days than non-added sample. Results suggested that both gamma irradiation and rosemary extract powder may improve the shelf-stability of ready-to-eat ham-burger steak. However, when the storage temperature was abused (3$0^{\circ}C$), the rosemary extract powder had not sufficient effect on the shelf- stability of hamburger steaks.