• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.174-180
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the microbiological contamination of tomato in cultivation and distribution stage. Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogens examined in tomato extracts (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0%) and incubation temperatures (5, 15, 25, and $35^{\circ}C$). In cultivation stage of tomato, total aerobic bacteria were 7.77 log CFU/g in gloves of APC (Agricultural Products Processing Center) worker and Bacillus cereus were 0.33 log CFU/g at nutrient tank, respectively. And Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., were not detected. After APC stage, total aerobic bacteria were significantly higher compared with before-APC stage. Among of general, pesticide-free and organic produce in tomato were no significant difference in microbial contamination. Coliforms of tomato in small vinyl package were significantly higher when compared to tomato in whole boxes package. There was no significant difference in bacteria count between unwashed tomato and washed tomato using tap water for one minute. The growth of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogens in tomato extracts were decreased significantly as the concentration increased, and the microbial population was reached the lowest point during storage in 10% tomato extracts concentration for 72h at $5^{\circ}C$. However, the population of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogens were gradually increased at 7.33~8.51 and 7.73~8.60 log CFU/ml during storage at $15{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ for 72h, respectively.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.317-322
• /
• 2005

The purposes of this study were to assess the microbiological contamination level of various disposable kitchen utensils and evaluate the effectiveness of gamma irradiation as a sterilization process for the utensils. The 51 kinds in 17 groups of disposable kitchen utensils were tested for the enumeration of total aerobic plate count, coliforms, fungi and Salmonella. Generally, cell density of microorganisms in disposable kitchen utensils were lower than that of cooking utensils currently using in kitchen. The survivals of total aerobic plate counts, putrefactive bacteria, on the surface of the disposable utensils were ranged up to $10^3\;CFU/100\;cm^2$. Filamentous fungi were detected in 13 samples. Coliform bacteria were detected in two kinds of samples but Salmonella spp. was detected below detection limits in all the samples. The microorganisms survived on the surface of utensils were effectively eliminated by gamma irradiation process at 3 kGy.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.277-283
• /
• 2009

Biogenic amines are generally formed through the decarboxylation of specific free amino acids by exogenous decarboxylases released by microbial species associated with the fish products and fermented feeds. This study was conducted to investigate the properties of e tuna waste regarding the control of degradation of biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, tryptamine, putrescine, and cadaverine) that might be related with the anti-nutritional factor of the tuna waste that is used for manufacturing domestic fish meal. The values of pH and the salt content were 6.51, 3.35% in tuna waste and 5.58 and 5.83% in tuna fish meal, respectively. The strains and dominant bacteria tested in the tuna waste sample were 9.20, 9.29, 5.67, 7.82 and 7.58 log CFU/g of total bacteria, aerobic plate count (APC), total coliform (TC), Lactobacillus spp. and Bacillus spp., respectively. The main histamine forming-bacteria (HFB) in tuna waste were detected by silica gel thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and 7 histamine-forming bacterial species were isolated among microbes grown in selective medium. The histamine concentration was determined by detection of fluorescence of ο-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) derivatives using HPLC and the date were used to reconfirm the identities of the amine-producing bacteria. The 15 histamine- forming bacteria strains grown in trypicase soy broth (TSB) supplemented with 1% L-histidine (TSBH) were identified as Lactococcus(L.) lactis subsp. lactis, Klebsiella pneummonlae, L. garvieae 36, Vibrio olivaceus, Hafnia alvei and L. garvieae which were main dominant amine - producing strains, and Morganella morganii identified by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing with PCR amplification. A Phylogenetic tree generated from the 16S rRNA sequencing data showed different phyletic lines that could be readily classified as biogenic amine forming gram-positive and negative bacteria.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.746-757
• /
• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of different freezing conditions and storage periods on physicochemical and microbial characteristics of garlic. Garlics were washed, dried, sliced to 0.3 cm then packed in LDPE+LLDPE film bags. They were treated with still-air freezing at $-20^{\circ}C$ (SAF20), $-40^{\circ}C$ (SAF40) and immersed-liquid freezing at $-40^{\circ}C$ (ILF40). Frozen garlics were stored under frozen storage conditions for 7 months at $-20^{\circ}C$ and quality characteristics were measured monthly during the frozen storage. Freezing rate of garlic was the fastest in ILF 40 (10 min), SAF40 (40 min) and SAF20 (1,600 min) sequentially. In ILF40, drip loss, cutting force, total aerobic bacteria count and pH were the lowest, whereas pyruvic acid and allicin content were the highest (p<0.05) during frozen storage, these results were the most similar characteristics with the fresh garlic. During frozen storage, drip loss, color difference and total organic acid content were significantly fluctuated in SAF20 (p<0.05), while they were not changed in ILF40. Overall, total aerobic bacteria count and pH decreased, cutting force, pyruvic acid and allicin content remained unchanged in all groups. In conclusion, the optimal freezing conditions for garlic with the least quality changes was considered to be ILF40 (immersed liquid freezing), keeping quality characteristics up to 7 months by freezing storage.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.155-166
• /
• 1980

Studies have teen undertaken to investigate the degree of microbial contamination in the subsidiary materials which have been known as an important source of microorganisms associated with spoilage of fish sausage and fish paste products. Twenty hinds of food ingredients including starch, spices and condiments, 59 samples in total collected from commercial fish sausage processing plants and supermarket in the period of July to October 1979, were examined for standard plate count, coliform and fecal coliform, mold and yeast, thermoduric microorganisms, aerobic sporeformers (mesophilic and thermophilic), anaerobic sporeformers (mesophilic and thermophilic) and sulfide spoilage anaerobes. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Among the food ingredients examined, corn starch, black pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, beef extract and frank marked high bacterial contamination with general and sporeforming microorganisms. And bacterial content of marked samples were generally higher than that of the samples from plants. 2. The high standard plate count caused by high content of these bacteria like thermoduric, mesophilic or thermophilic sporeforming aerobes. 3. Bacterial content of food ingredients such as black pepper and beef extract being used in plants, and black pepper, hot pepper, onion and garlic from the market were exceeded the bacterial standards being enforced in Japan and U. S. A. 4. Average standard plate count was in the range of 10$^4$to 10$^{5}$ /g for black pepper, wheat flour, onion and garlic collected from plants, and 10$^{5}$ to 10$^{7}$ /g for black pepper, hot pepper, onion and garlic from market. No plate count was observed in pepper essence and coloring material. 5. Coliform organism was detected in starch, black pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, ginger and gluten that showed high standard plate but no fecal coliform in the samples except black pepper and hot pepper. 6. Average mold and yeast count was 140 to 460/g for corn starch, wheat flour and black pepper from plants, and 10$^3$/g for black pepper and hot pepper from market. No count was observed in the other ingredients. 7. Sulfide spoilage sporeforming anaerobes boiled for 5 min. at 10$0^{\circ}C$ and incubated at 55$^{\circ}C$ was not detected in all the samples examined.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.323-329
• /
• 2013

Strawberries are among the leading ready-to-eat agricultural products that have superior taste and nutrition. Thus, consumer concerns about the safety of eating strawberries are growing. To evaluate the contamination levels of strawberries according to their cultivation methods (nutriculture, pesticide-free culture and organic farming) and parts [fruit (flesh), stalk (pedunle) and leaf (calyx)], 1,020 parts of strawberry samples were collected at 12 farms in Nonsan-si and quantitatively or qualitatively examined for the indicators of food safety and food poisoning bacteria. The total aerobic bacteria count in the whole samples was 2.3~6.8 ${\log}_{10}$ CFU/g, and coliform bacteria were detected in 14.2% of the whole samples with a contamination level range of 2.1~4.5 log CFU/g. E. coli were detected in 0.9% of the whole samples with a contamination level range of 2.1~2.8 log CFU/g. The analysis of the bacterial levels according to the cultivation methods showed that the total aerobic bacteria and coliform counts were higher in the strawberries that were grown via organic farming than in those that were grown via nutriculture and pesticide-free culture. However, the E. coli counts of the strawberries that were grown via organic farming and via pesticide-free culture were similar and differed from that of the strawberries that were grown via nutriculture. The analysis of the contamination levels according to the parts of the strawberries showed that the total aerobic bacteria, coliform and E. coli counts of the fruits, stalks and leaves of the strawberries did not significantly differ. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in two organically grown strawberries, but Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in the whole samples. These results show that the bacterial contamination levels of the strawberries differed based on their cultivation methods. Thus, a suitable method of reducing the bacterial contamination levels of strawberries according to their farming methods is needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.341-345
• /
• 2010

Three-hundred samples of powdered infant formula milk and related products from four different manufacturers in 2010 were collected and surveyed their contaminations for aerobic bacteria, coliform, Enterobacter(Cronobacter) sakazakii, and food-borne pathogens. Fifteen samples of sterilized infant formula milk were all negative on these microorganisms. In all collected products of un sterilized infant formulas and follow-on infant formulas, aerobic bacteria were detected at 239 (83.9%) among 285 samples, and they all were found below $10^3$ cfu/g. Coliform bacteria were also detected at four among 285 samples. Salmonella spp. and Ent. sakazakii, weren't detected at the all samples. Bacillus cereus was detected at 24 (8.4%) among 285 samples. The level of B. cereus was below 100 cfu/g but it was suitable for the range of specification of B. cereus in infant formulas. Clostridium perjringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes weren't also detected. In consequence, it was suitable for total viable count, coliform and potential pathogen to the specification of infant formulas and related products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.1050-1057
• /
• 1997

Microbial counts, enzyme activities and taste components of traditional kochujangs prepared with the powders from 4 different varieties of red pepper, were investigated during 90 days fermentation for the industrial production of traditional kochujang. The viable cell counts of anaerobic bacteria in kochujangs did not change remarkably during fermentation, however, aerobic bacterial counts showed a rapid increase up to 90 days of aging. The yeasts in all kochujang samples increased until 60 days of aging and than decreased. After 90 days of aging, the count of aerobic bacteria in Kumtop kochujang was higher than those of others. The activities of liquefying amylase decreased during the aging, but those of saccharogenic amylase increased at 60 days of aging. The activities of neutral protease were higher than those of acidic protease, and increased during the middle and last period of aging. The major free sugars of kochujang were maltose and glucose, and their contents were higher in Hongkwang kochujang. The major organic acids of kochujang were succinic, formic and citric acid, followed by lactic acid. Succinic acid content in kochujang decreased during fermentation, whereas formic and citirc acids were increased. The major free amino acids were serine, proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. Kumtop kochujang contained the highest amount of total free amino acids. Among the nucleotides and related components in kochujang, cytidine-5-monophosphate was the most abundant component at the begining of aging period, while hypoxanthine increased remarkably during fermentation. Hanwang kochujang was higher in the content of nucleotides than others. Capsaicin contents of kochujang decreased during aging and those of Jangter kochujang was higher than that of others. Sensory evaluation showed that Jangter kochujang was significantly better than Kumtop kochujang in overall acceptability, but there were no appreciable differences in color and flavor.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.804-809
• /
• 2009

Recently, many Koreans have started to consume aged kimchi fermented long-term at low temperatures. In the present study, the effect of low temperature ($5^{\circ}C$) on pH, titratable acidity (TA), organic acid level, viable microbial cell count, amino acid concentration, and polygalacturonase activity (PG) during long-term fermentation (46 weeks) of kimchi, were evaluated. After 10 weeks of fermentation, kimchi had a pH of 4.1 and a TA of 1.0%, respectively after 46 weeks fermentation, these values were 3.9 and 1.3%, respectively. Lactic acid, the ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid, and the ratio of Lactobacillus species/Leuconostoc species in kimchi increased as fermentation progressed from 10 weeks to 46 weeks. However, total viable cell counts of aerobic bacteria, yeasts, Lactobacillus species, and Leuconostoc species, free amino acid levels, and PG decreased as the fermentation period was extended from 10 weeks to 46 weeks.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.251-258
• /
• 2018

We investigated microbial and quality changes in wrap-packaged dry-aged beef after completion of aging and subsequent storage in a refrigerator. After 28 days of dry aging (temperature, $4^{\circ}C$; RH, approximately 75%; air flow velocity, 2.5 m/s), sirloins were trimmed, wrap-packaged, and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. Analyses of microbial growth, pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TABRS), and instrumental color, myoglobin, and sensory evaluation were conducted on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. The results show that the number of total aerobic bacteria (TAB), yeast, and lactic acid bacteria increased with an increase in storage days, whereas no change in the growth of mold was observed during 7 days of storage. Based on the legal standard for TAB count, the estimated shelf-life of wrap-packaged dry-aged beef was predicted to be less than 12.2 days. However, the shelflife should be less than 6.3 days, considering the result of sensory quality (odor, taste, and overall acceptance). No significant change in visible appearance was also observed during 7 days of storage. The results suggest that the present quality indicators for meat spoilage (pH, VBN, and TBARS) should be re-considered for dry-aged beef, as its characteristics are different from those of fresh and/or wet-aged beef.