• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.477-488
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• 2020

Recently, foodborne illness outbreaks linked to fresh produce are being increasingly reported in the United States, the EU, and Korea as well. Some of this increase may be due to improved surveillance, increase in consumption, change in consumers' habits, and complex distribution systems. Garlic chive is a green, fresh-cut vegetable consumed year-round as a nutrition-rich herb in Korea. It is also prone to contamination with foodborne pathogens during pre-harvest, as amendment with high amounts of livestock manure or compost to soil is required in its cultivation. Our aim in this study was to evaluate microbial contamination of garlic chives, garlic chives cultivation soil, compost, and irrigation water in the southern part of Korea. Samples were collected in A, B, and C regions in 2019 and 2020, and 69, 72, 27, and 40 of garlic chives, soil, compost, and irrigated water, respectively, were analyzed for the presence of sanitary indicator bacteria (total aerobic bacteria, coliforms and Escherichia coli), Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, pathogenic E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. In A, B, and C regions, levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform, B. cereus, and S. aureus on all samples were between 1.14 and 8.83 log CFU/g, 0.43 and 5.01 log CFU/g, 0.41 and 5.55 log CFU/g, and 1.81 and 6.27 log CFU/g, respectively. B. cereus isolated from garlic chives and environmental samples showed β-hemolysis activity. Incidence of S. aureus in garlic chive and its production environments in 2020 was different from 2019. In this study, B. cereus and S. aureus were the only pathogenic microorganisms detected in all samples. As a result, this work suggests that continuous monitoring in the production and pre-harvest environment is required to improve hthe hygiene and safety of garlic chive.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Seasonal distribution of various microorganisms was investigated in the effluent water in various sewage treatment plants from January to November in 2007. The target microorganisms were composed of total heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliform and enteric bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Yeast and Mold. The number of total bacteria and the indicator microorganisms, such as E. coli, coliform, and Enterobacteriacea, were increased during the summer season. S. aureus, however, was not influenced by the weather, showing higher number even in November and January in most sewage treatment plants investigated. Meanwhile, disinfection methods employed in various plants had no direct relationship with the growth of microorganisms, and small-scaled plants were found to be more effective than large-scaled ones in the sterilization of microorganisms.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2001

This study was carried out to examine the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of Korean and other countries chicken circulated in Tokyo, Japan. The breast meats of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese chickens and thigh meats of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, American, and Thai chicken were used. In the proximate analysis of breast meat, Korean chicken had the lowest crude protein and crude ash(P<0.01), but showed the highest content of moisture(P<0.001). TBA values of Japanese breast meat were higher than Korean and Chinese one. In thigh meat, crude fat of American one was significantly higher than the others(P<0.001), and had very high bacterial counts. Korean chicken thigh meats showed the lowest VBN values.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Many community gardens in large cities worldwide grow vegetables; however, no information regarding the levels of sanitary indicator bacteria and prevalence of foodborne pathogens in vegetables grown in urban community gardens is available. To evaluate the microbiological quality of vegetables from urban community gardens in Korea, 530 samples (nine types of vegetable, including Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish leaves, spinach, mustard leaves, crown daisy, leek, Korean cabbage, and chicory) were collected at 11 urban community gardens in Seoul, Korea from September through October 2012. The levels of total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, Salmonella spp. Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli O157:H7 were evaluated quantitatively and/or qualitatively. The mean numbers of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms were 6.3 log CFU/g (range 3.8-8.1 log CFU/g) and 4.3 log CFU/g (range 2.1-6.4 log CFU/g), respectively. Total coliforms were detected on 67% of whole vegetables. Chicory showed the highest number of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, whereas the lowest number of coliforms was detected on leeks. E. coli was detected on 2.3% of whole vegetables, including lettuce, radish leaves, mustard leaves, and chicory; however, foodborne pathogenic bacteria were not detected on any of the vegetable samples using this highly sensitive and validated procedure. Based on these findings, the presence of coliforms and E. coli demonstrates that opportunity for improvement of microbiological safety exists throughout the produce production chain, although no major foodborne pathogens were present in vegetables grown in urban community gardens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.761-767
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• 1996

To lessen the initial level of microorganisms, electrolyzed acid-water was used as washing and brine water in the manufacturing process. On the washing and salting processes, application of electrolyzed acid-water showed a possibility to lessen the microorganism level of Chinese cabbage effectively. Microbial level of Chinese cabbage was reduced to about 1/4 level by salting and washing process with electrolyzed acid-water while Chinese cabbage salted with tap water increased to about 1.7 times. And no coliform and E. coli were detected. However significant differences between seasoning mixtures prepared with electrolyzed acid-water and with tap water were not observed in microbial levels. Relatively low level of total count in kimchi prepared with electroyzed acid-water was kept until 15 days of fermentation at $10^{\circ}C.$ Any significant difference between them was not observed after 20 days of fermentation. pH and acidity were showed the same tendencies as microbial count.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2014

Community-acquired antimicrobial resistant bacteria are an emerging problem world-wide. In Korea, resistant bacteria are more prevalent than in other industrialized countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation frequency of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), Pseudomonas, and Enterobacteriaceae from surrounding environment (home, colleges, public transportation system and possessions) in Seoul, and to examine the level of drug resistance to 13 antimicrobial agents, which are in wide spread clinical use in Korea, as well as new agent, tigecycline in Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Of total 239 samples, 18 (7.5%) MRS, 10 (4.2%) Pseudomonas, and 30 (12.6%) Entarobacteriaceae were isolated. A total of 5 (2.1%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected in home (2 samples), colleges (1 sample), and et cetera (2 sample). A total of 5 (2.1%) Escherichia coli were detected in in home (1 samples), public transportations (3 sample), and et cetera (1 sample). Resistance to cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, ${\beta}$-lactams, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides was found in 71.9%, 71.9%, 68.8%, 68.8%, 50.0%, and 25.0% of 32 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, respectively. Also, resistance rate to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole of the isolates was a 43.8%. Moreover, 59.4% of the isolates were resistant to new agent, tigecycline and resistance to all agents tested was observed in 3 isolates. Five E. coli isolates were resistant to most of the agents tested, but some of them were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. This study can serve as a data point for future comparisons of possible changes in antibiotic resistance levels in surrounding environment. And multilateral strategies for preventing the incidence and spread of antibiotic resistance are needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.198-202
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• 2011

Rice has been the most important staple food in everyday meals of Korean people for thousands of years. Nowadays, it is getting increasingly used as flour ingredients in a variety of processed foods, so that it is consumed in more diversified ways. As a consequence, production volume of rice flour to manufacture rice cakes, noodles, breads, or confectioneries is recently getting increased in Korea. But there are not sufficient research outcomes to guarantee Korean consumers microbiological qualities of rice flour as well as rice. As a preliminary experiment, therefore, the microbiological profiles (aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), spore-forming aerobic bacteria (SAB), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts and molds (YM), and Escherichia coli and coliforms) have been monitored for nine retailed white rice samples in this study. AMB counts ranged $10^2-10^6$ CFU/g for all the nine white rice samples. All the nine rice samples have SAB counts within a narrow range $(1.0{\times}10^2-2.5{\times}10^3$ CFU/g). LAB was detected in two white rice samples ($4.0{\times}10^2$ and $3.7{\times}10^3$ CFU/g), YM was detected in one white rice sample ($2.0{\times}10^2$ CFU/g) only. E. coli was not detected from all the nine samples. Coliforms were detected in one white rice sample ($4.1{\times}10$ CFU/g) only. All the rice samples were conclusively considered to have various microorganisms, though most of them are harmless and some, such as coliforms, may be harmful.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.457-466
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• 2001

In this study. HACCP system was applied to improve the quality of instant ablactation baby food with rising sanitary problem among SunSig(powder of roasted grains and vegetables) . It took about 9min 30 second to produce and the temperature status of raw materials were 30.9∼31.8$\^{C}$. Raw material and production phase goods had average 6.2 in pH and 0.23∼0.63 in water activity. The average number of total aerobic bacteria(TAB) and coliform were 1.4$\times$10$^4$ CFU/g, 5.5$\times$10 CFU/g in raw materials. And the number became 8.7$\times$10$^2$ CFU/g, 6.9$\times$10 CFU/g after 1st grinding step. The distributions of TAB and coliform in equipments were 3.8$\times$10$^4$ CFU/㎠, 8.0$\times$10 CFU/㎠ on the average. According to storage temperature, variations of number of TAB coliform were slight at 4$\^{C}$ but increased at 20$\^{C}$ and 30$\^{C}$ . Therefore following subjects can be issued on the basis of results. Minimize the storage time and keep at cool temperature. 1st and 2nd grinders should be managed hygienically. Establish the heating step during the production of instant action baby food. Instant ablactation baby food produced should be stored at cool and freeze condition.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

This study was aimed to assess microbiological contamination level of Liriope platyphylla farms (A, B, and C) located in Cheongyang, Chungnam province. Specimens sampled from those farms and L. platyphylla tuberous roots were assessed for sanitary indication bacteria such as total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli and pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, quantitatively and qualitatively. As a result, those farms are not contaminated by E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., at all. And S. aureus was only found qualitatively from workers' gloves at a farm. As a whole, those farms (soil, harvest container, harvester, cleanser, washing water and tray) were maintained in a low level of microbiological contamination. However a cleanser was contaminated by coliforms ($4.35log\;CFU/100cm^2$), and it is required to improve farm hygiene. Microbiological contamination level of L. platyphylla tuberous root was decreased in the postharvest process including washing and drying.

• Food Industry
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• s.220
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• pp.22-65
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• 2011

${\bigcirc}$ 본 업소는 냉동식품(냉동만두류, 냉동면류, 냉동피자)를 생산하는 식품제조 가공업소로서 총 5명의 인원이 냉동식품 3개 제품을 생산하여 매출액은 (약00원)이며 주로 대형 유통 판매업소에 판매하고 있다. ${\bigcirc}$ 본 업소의 냉동식품은 축산물(돈육) 농산물 등과 밀가루, 소금 등을 배합 성형 후 가열 등의 공정을 거쳐 생산된 제품으로 원료 취급과정에서의 오염이나 불충분한 가열, 교착오염 등으로 식중독균(병원성대장균, 황색포도상구균등)과 원료 및 제조과정에서 이물(금속등)이 혼입할 수 있으며, ${\bigcirc}$ 이로 인한 주요클레임 발생사례는 최근 3년간 관계당국으로부터 대장균군 검출 3건, 소비자클레임 2건이 있었다. - 연도별 주요 클레임내용은 '08년도에는 대장균군 검출 3건(냉동만두류), '09년도 날벌레 이물검출 1건(냉동피자), '10년도에는 철수세미1건(냉동면류)이었다. ${\bigcirc}$ 이러한 위해발생을 사전에 예방하기 위해 중점관리해야하는 공정은 가열(중숙, 탕숙, 가열 굽기)공정, 세척공정으로 판단되며, 금속 등의 이물 혼입 또한 중점적으로 관리할 필요성이 있다. ${\bigcirc}$ 본 업소에서 생산하는 냉동식품(냉동만두류, 냉동면류, 냉동피자)는 가열(중숙/탕숙/가열/굽기)공정 및 세척공정에서의 가열(중숙/탕숙/가열/굽기) 후 품온을 설정하여 CCP 1로, 세척시간과 세척수량, 원물량을 설정하여 CCP 2로 관리하고 있으며, 2시간마다 모니터링하고 한계기준 이탈여부를 기록하도록 하고 있다. ${\bigcirc}$ 종합적인 공정 및 일반위생관리를 위해 개인위생 상태, 냉동 냉장고 온도 확인 등 총 30개 항목에 대하여 정기적 점검(매일 18, 주간 4, 월간 4, 분기 1, 연간 3)을 실시하고 있으며, ${\bigcirc}$ 따라서 지속적인 모니터링을 통해 미흡사항의 원인으로 파악하고 문제점 제거를 위해 체계적이고 지속적인 관리가 필요한다.