• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.397-404
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate microbial contamination in the school food service environment for the assessment of microbial food safety. Methods: We collected both swab samples from tables and desks and airborne bacterial samples from an elementary school (School A) and a high school (School B). Heterotrophic plate count, total coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus were measured with selective media to quantify microbial concentration. PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA genes was performed to identify the strains of S. aureus and B. cereus isolated. In addition, we made a food service checklist for the locations to evaluate the food service environment. A Wilcoxon test was employed to examine the differences in microbial concentration between before lunchtime and afterwards. Results: Heterotrophic plate counts showed higher levels after-lunch compared to before-lunch at School B. However, levels of S. aureus were higher in the after-lunch period (p<0.05) in both classrooms and in the cafeteria in School A. B. cereus was only sparsely detected in School B. Several samples from food dining carts were found to be contaminated with bacteria, and facilities associated with food delivery were found to be vulnerable to bacterial contamination. Although microbial concentrations in the air showed little difference between before- and after-lunchtime in the cafeteria in School A, those in classrooms were greater after-lunchtime at both schools. Conclusion: Our results suggested that the microbial safety in schools after lunchtime of concern. Necessary preventive measures such as hygiene education for students and food handlers should be required to minimize microbial contamination during food service processes in schools.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to investigate awareness of hand washing, hand washing behavior, and the levels of indicator microorganisms on hands of food handlers who work in the food court and cafeteria of a university campus. The three methods used were questionnaire survey by interview, direct observation in restrooms, and microbiological examination according to the Food Code of Korea. A positive attitude toward hand washing compliance was reported by the responded food handlers; however, improper hand washing and poor hand hygiene of the food handlers were recognized by the unnoticed direct observation. Significant differences were found between the questionnaire survey and the direct observation (p < 0.05) in hand washing compliance after using the toilet, duration of hand washing, use of hand washing agent, washing different parts of the hands, hand-drying method, temperature of water, and method of turning off the water. Samples taken from their hands before work showed higher level of standard plate count, total and fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli than those taken after washing with water. After washing hands with antiseptic liquid soap, the bacterial populations including Staphylococcus aureus on hands were dramatically reduced. This study indicates that there is a remarkable difference between the food handlers' awareness of hand washing and their hand washing behavior. Poor hand washing compliance and hand hygiene were indicated by the positive results of total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, and S. aureus on hands of some food handlers. The findings of this study suggest that the hand hygiene of the food handlers need to be improved. More training/education on hand washing and hand hygiene of the food handlers should be necessary.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.520-527
• /
• 2021

In this study, toxin gene and antibiotic resistance of food poisoning strains isolated from indoor air in the cafeteria were analyzed to prevent food poisoning. Staphylococcus aureus (16 strains) and Bacillus cereus (37 strains) isolated from indoor air in child care center were tested. The toxin genes of S. aureus and B. cereus were detected by PCR assay. The antimicrobial susceptibility test followed the disc diffusion method described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. The seg and sei toxin genes were detected in 11 of 16 S. aureus strains (68.6%). The nheA and nheB toxin genes were detected in 37 B. cereus strains. In this study, a total of 12 toxin gene patterns of B. cereus were found, among which the nheA-nheB-nheC toxin gene was found to be the most frequent pattern. The result of the antimicrobial susceptibility test of S. aureus revealed 93.8% and 87.5% resistance to ampicillin and penicillin antibiotics, but methicillin resistance S. aureus and vancomycin resistance S. aureus were not detected. All 37 B. cereus tested in this study were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin antibiotics. Based on the result of this study, it was judged that regular ventilation and air quality management were necessary to prevent food poisoning caused by S. aureus and B. cereus contaminated in the indoor air of child care centers.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.361-369
• /
• 2010

Objectives: An outbreak of norovirus occurred at a high school in Gyeongju city in 2009. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to examine the infection source and the transmission route of norovirus, and to prevent a recurrence. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 520 male students and 8 food handlers. Rectal swabs were examined in 21 symptomatic students and the 8 food handlers by Gyeongsangbukdo Government Public Institute of Health & Environment, and an environmental investigation was performed. A case-control study was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and disease. Results: The attack rate was 21.3% (111/520) between January 29 and February 10, and norovirus GII was isolated from 12 of 21 students. Food handlers had no symptoms and their stool samples were negative. The case-control study revealed that seasoned soy bean sprouts {odds ratio (OR): 2.542, 95% CI=1.315-4.915} and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria (OR: 2.854, 95% CI=1.107-7.358) supplied on February 3 were significant risk factors for the outbreak. Water pipes and waste pipes were located in the same place where was filled with some water and trace of high water level was detected. Conclusions: The major risk factors for this norovirus outbreak were presumed to be the contaminated seasoned soy bean sprouts and drinking water from the purifiers in the cafeteria. More strict personal and environmental hygiene need to be enforced to prevent such outbreaks.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.219-228
• /
• 2014

Even though consumers' concern about food-safety certified or environment-friendly chicken meat becomes one of the main issues of food consumption in Korea, university students' interest about food-safety certified or environment-friendly chicken meat was not often discussed. We realized that the cafeteria of university is one of the largest consumption points for the chicken meat of university students, and tried to analyze university students' consumption of food-safety certified or environment-friendly chicken meat at the cafeterias of university. The object of this paper is to conduct survey analysis about the students' behavior for consumption of food-safety certified or environment-friendly chicken meat at the cafeterias of university and to measure WTP(Willingness-to-pay) for the food cooked with food-safety certified or environment-friendly chicken meat. The results present that most of students show higher preference of environment-friendly chicken meat than food-safety certified chicken meat, and that they can pay 1,329.9 Korean won for food cooked with environment-friendly chicken meat.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2016

As the number of cafeterias at universities has increased, studies on student perception of price sensitivity at cafeterias have gained increased attention. Therefore, the study investigated the relationship between students and university cafeterias according to price sensitivity measurement (PSM). According to the analysis, the indifference price (IDP) was 3,444.06 Korean Won while the subsequent cumulative distribution percentage was approximately 17.68%. The optimal pricing point (OPP) was 3,233.73 Korean Won and the stress price (IDP-OPP) was 210.33 Korean Won. The point of marginal expensiveness (PME) was 4,602.24 Koean Won and the point of marginal cheapness (PMC) was 2,036.29 Korean Won. Therefore, the range of acceptable prices (RAP) was established as 2,565.95 Korean Won. In addition, the study examined differences between price sensitivity measurement (PSM) for the respondent subgroups. Hence, the results will provide a practical background for development of business plans for university cafeterias.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2012

The cafeteria of university is one of the largest consumption point for the chicken meat of university students. However, few papers conducted research to analyze the consumption behavior of university students. The object of this paper is to conduct survey analysis about the students' behavior for consumption of chicken meat at the cafeterias of university and to measure WTP (Willingness-to-pay) for food cooked with domestic chicken meat. The results present that most of students show higher preference of domestic chicken meat and that they can pay 4,426 Korean won for food cooked with domestic chicken meat.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.320-332
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the main dishes of menus at university faculty cafeterias to understand current lunch menu trends. A sample of 1040 menus was collected from Internet homepages of 52 universities between March and May, 2014. The main dishes of menus were categorized into six groups based on main ingredients and cooking methods. The most frequently served main dish ingredient was pork followed by fish/seafood, and poultry. Pork dishes and chicken dishes were mainly roasted, pan fried, or deep fried with various carbohydrate ingredients to bulk them up. Large amounts of chili pepper, corn syrup, and oil were added to improve the bland flavor of these dishes, which contain starchy ingredients. In contrast to pork dishes or chicken dishes, 40.2% of beef dishes was served in a more traditional way as soup. Fewer kinds of fish or seafood were used, and the cooking methods also lacked diversity. In conclusion, main dish menus at university faculty cafeterias have undergone changes in terms of ingredients and cooking methods. Meat dishes cooked using traditional methods are becoming less common, especially for pork and chicken dishes, which are quite sweet, salty, and spicy. Extensive use of carbohydrate ingredients was found in some meat dishes and side dishes in one-dish meals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2022

This qualitative study analyzed various environmental factors and difficulties faced by school foodservices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group interviews were conducted by enrolling 12 nutrition teachers and nutritionists. Data collected were subsequently analyzed for changes implemented during the pandemic, in hygiene management, diet management, and distribution management of the school meal. The content and method of delivery of information related to diet guidance and school foodservice by related organizations were also examined. Results of the survey show that personal hygiene (such as maintaining student-to-student distance, checking students for a fever, and hand disinfection) was duly applied, installation of table coverings and distancing between school cafeteria seats were conducted, and mandatory mask-wearing to prevent droplet transmission was enforced. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the number of students having school meals was limited per grade, and time-spaced meals were provided. To prevent infection, menus that required frequent hand contact were excluded from the meal plan. Overall, it was difficult to manage the meal plan due to frequent changes in tasks, such as the number of orders and meal expenses. These changes were communicated by nutrition teachers and nutritionists wherein the numbers of school meals were adjusted, depending on situations arising from each COVID-19 crisis stage. Furthermore, in some schools, either face-to-face nutrition counseling was stopped entirely, or nutrition education was conducted online. Parent participation was disallowed in the monitoring of school meals, and the prohibition on conversations inside the school cafeteria resulted in the absence of communication among students, nutrition teachers, and nutritionists. Additionally, confusion in meal management was caused by frequent changes in the school meal management guidelines provided by the Office of Education and the School Health Promotion Center in response to COVID-19. In anticipation of the emergence of a new virus or infectious diseases caused by mutations in the years to come, it is suggested that a holistic, well-thought-out response manual for safe meal operation needs to be established, in close collaboration with schools and school foodservice-related institutions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2010

In order to aide in the design of an improved menu book, which could play an important role as a marketing tool, the current version of the menu books and managers (subjects) of 295 restaurants in the Incheon area were examined. These were managers of Korean (36.3%), Western (25.8%), Japanese (14.6%), cafeteria (12.5%) and Chinese (10.8%) style restaurants. The level of service (self-evaluation, 3-point scale) was average $2.25{\pm}0.45$. The general colorings of the menu books were green (19.0%), brown (18.6%), black (17.6%), yellow (15.9%), red (13.6%) and blue (13.2%). The material of the menu book cover was mainly leather (35.9%), and the internal material was mainly coated paper (59.7%). Physically, the design was two-panel fold (38.3%), two-panel multi-page (35.6%), die style (10.2%), single panel (8.1%) and tent style (7.8%). The type sizes were unchanged in 49.9% of the menu books and in 61.7% photos were not used. 53.9% of menu books did not explain the menus, and 13.2% did not classify the items into groups. Emphasis of profit-making menus was not done in 66.8%. 51.5% of menu books were irreplaceable in parts. The emphasis of profit-making menus was less among the Korean style restaurants (p<0.001). The possibility of partial replacement of menu books was lower in both Korean and Chinese restaurants (p<0.001). The explanation of the items was lower in the Japanese restaurants (p<0.001). The classification of items into groups was lower in cafeteria (p<0.001). In cases in which there were both seasonal and event menus, the possibility of partial replacements of menu books was higher (p<0.001). Restaurants of which service level was less than ordinary were lower in the differentiation of type sizes (p<0.001), the use of photos (p<0.001), the explanation of menus (p<0.001), the classification of menus by groups (p<0.05), the emphasis of profit-making menus (p<0.001) and the possibility of partial replacement of menu books (p<0.001). If these study findings are applied to the designing of menu books, the role of the menu book as an important tool for marketing could be greatly improved.