• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.837-841
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• 2004

Changes in total aerobic bacteria (TAB), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), rod- and coccal-shaped lactic acid bacteria (R- and C-LAB), pH, and total acidity were investigated during fermentation of radish with new fermentation base at $20^{\circ}C$ for up to 16 days. New fermentation base was prepared by pre-fermenting a mixture of rice bran and rice water (1 : 0.1, w/v) at $20^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. Initially, radish showed 5.41, 4.23, 4.57, and 3.1 log CFU/g, and base showed 6.68, 6.60, 5.95, and 5.6 log CFU/mL for TAB, LAB, R-LAB, and C-LAB, respectively. Initial pH and total acidity of radish were $6.6^{\circ}C$ and 0.09%, and those of base were 5.76 and 0.36%, respectively, Counts of LAB (4.23 to 8.33 Bog Cpu/g, 6.6 to 9.7 log CFU/mL), R-LAB (4.57 to 7.15 log CFU/g, 5.95 to 8.5 log CFU/mL), and C-LAB (3.1 to 7.5 log CFU/g, 5.6 to 8.6 log CFU/mL) of radish and base respectively increased during initial fermentation period, then remained constant during late fermentation period, and far 4 days after fermentation, pH values (6.6 to 4.19, 5.76 to 4.57) drastically decreased and thereafter slowly decreased. Total acidities of radish and base (0.09 to 0.63%, 0.36 to 0.63%, respectively) drastically increased far 7 days after fermentation and increased slightly thereafter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.729-733
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• 2005

This study was conducted to sanitize fried-frozen cheese ball by gamma irradiation. Total aerobic bacteria and yeasts and molds counts were 4.4 and 2.8 log CFU/g in non-irradiated sample, respectively. Microorganisms were decreased with increase of irradiation dose $(D_{10}=1.25\;kGy)$, and were not detected in samples irradiated at 3 kGy or more $(<10^2\;CFU/g)$. $D_{10}$ value for Escherichia coli (KCTC 1682) was 0.25 kGy. TBA (2-thiobarbituric acid) values were increased as irradiation dose was increased, but there was no significant difference between non-irradiated and irradiated samples at 3 kGy or less (p<0.05). The results of sensory evaluation showed that there was no significant difference between non-irradiated and irradiated samples at 3 kGy or less, the sensory scores were decreased with irradiation at 5 kGy or more (p<0.05). These results indicated that gamma irradiation at 3 kGy was considered to be an effective treatment to ensure the microbiological safety of fried-frozen cheese balls without any sensorial change, even though further studies should be investigated to reduce detrimental effects induced by irradiation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1225-1233
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial inhibitory activity and physicochemical quality of fresh carrot juice prepared with different environmentally-friendly washing methods during low temperature storage. Individual and combined treatments with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, $NaHCO_3$) and citric acid were applied to carrots for 10 min. Tap water and 50 ppm of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) were used as the control. Combined treatment of 1% $NaHCO_3$ and 1% citric acid significantly reduced total aerobic counts and coliforms. In addition, combined treatment of 1% $NaHCO_3$ and 1% citric acid inhibited microbial growth for 7 days at $4^{\circ}C$ and $10^{\circ}C$ in a shelf-life study. There were no significant differences among the sanitizers in terms of $^{\circ}Brix$, acidity, pH, and color. Changes in physicochemical quality were not significantly different by sanitizer but were affected by storage temperature. These results indicate that washing with combined treatment of 1% $NaHCO_3$ and 1% citric acid is an effective method to inhibit the microbial population and maintain physicochemical quality. Therefore, combined treatment of 1% $NaHCO_3$ and 1% citric acid can be effectively used to sanitize and prepare carrot juice without affecting other properties.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.908-915
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• 1998

By using Korean native soybean, traditional meju was prepared in Chuncheon, Kangweondo according to the traditional process. Analysis of physico-chemical, enzymatic and microbiological changes during meju fermentation were carried out in order to obtain a basic information for industrial scale production of meju. The enviroments for natural meju fermentation were $10{\sim}15^{\circ}C$ and $60{\sim}70%{\;}RH$. Moisture content decreased from 59% to 11% (exterior section) and 19% (interior section). the pH of meju rapidly increased up to 8.5 at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation and thereafter decreased down to 7.9 at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Souble protein content was 1.47% at initial stage and increased up to $6.31{\sim}7.34%$ at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Amino nitrogen content was $460{\sim}770{\;}mg%$ at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. the color of meju became gradually black and decreased in redness and yellowness. During the process, protease and lipase seemed to play an important role in the digestion of soy protein and fat. Acidic protease activity increased up to $135.9{\sim}152.4{\;}unit/g$ at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation and were $181.3{\sim}272.6{\;}unit/g$ at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Lipase activity increased up to 6 unit/g (interior section) and 15 unit/g (exterior section) at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. the viable cell count of meju was at the level of $10^8{\;}CFU/g$ during the overall fermentation period. Aerobic halophilic count was $1.51{\times}10^7{\;}CFU/g$ at initial stage and maintained $10^8{\;}CFU/g$ level during the process. Initial anaerobic cell count was $2.0^9{\times}10^4{\;}CFU/g$ and increased up to $10^5{\;}CFU/g$ level at 47 days. Yeast and mold counts were $10^4{\sim}10^5{\;}CFU/g$ for the fermentation period.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2015

The purposes of this study were to develop a small scale post-harvest facility, and consequently to evaluate the effects of applying the facility along with hygiene education on the level of microbial safety in Korean leeks production. A total of 135 samples were collected at three Korean leeks farms in Yangju, Gyeonggi province. Food safety indicators (Aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count, and Escherichia coli) and foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) on/in the samples were assessed. The microbial load measured as APC with harvesting tools such as comb, chopping board, and knife, at the farms where the small scale post-harvest facility had been operated (Farms A and B) was lower than that at another farm having no post-harvest facility (Farm C) by 1.44~2.33 log CFU / $100cm^2$. Moreover, the chopping board from Farm C was observed being contaminated with B. cereus at 6.03 log CFU / $100cm^2$. The coliform counts from the samples increased by 0.57~1.89 log CFU/g after leeks was submerged in ground water for washing. E. coli was recovered from leeks, soil, and the ground water used in the washing process, while no E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and L. monocytogenes was detected. Our results indicated that the small scale post-harvest facility developed in this study as well as the hygiene education played an important role in enhancing the level of microbial food safety in the leeks production environment. However, a disinfection technique could be needed during the washing step in order to prevent a potential contamination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2007

Antioxidative activity and functional properties of the powder obtained from ground Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten fruit were studied. Cupcakes containing 1,3, and 5% (w/w) of O. ficus-indica vu. saboten powders were prepared and evaluated for their sensory property, textural quality, and shelf-life. The antioxidative activity, measured by DPPH radical scavenging activity of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder, increased as the concentrations of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder increased. No coliform bacteria, yeasts, and molds were detected in either the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder or in the cupcakes. However, total aerobic bacteria counts were 4.41 log CFU/g in the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder and were a negligible level (<$10^2$ CFU/g) in the cupcakes. Moisture content of the cupcakes was not significantly different in all samples. Lightness (L) and yellowness (b) of cupcake color decreased as the concentration of O. ficus-indicar var. saboten powder increased, whereas the redness (a) increased. Increasing the concentration of O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder, the mechanical characteristics of the cupcakes, such as hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, while decreasing cohesiveness and springiness. The sensory properties, such as color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability, of the cupcakes containing the 1% 0. ficus-indica var. saboten powder were superior to the control sample. The results exhibited that the adding the O. ficus-indica var. saboten powder into the cupcakes increased antioxidant activity and showed no effect on shelf-life of the cupcakes. The highest quality improvement was obtained by incorporating the 1% (w/w) of 0. ficus-indica var. saboten powder into the cupcake formula.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.252-260
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• 2009

Whereas the numbers of childcare centers and kindergartens are increasing rapidly, systematic management to control the food safety of foodservice operation is not yet well established. Samples from 12 centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were collected to assess the microbiological quality of 32 raw materials, 24 cooked foods, 76 food-contact surfaces (knives, cutting boards, dish towels and gloves), 17 employees' hands and 12 air-borne bacteria. The microbiological analyses were performed for aerobic plate counts (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and 7 pathogens (B. cereus, C. jejuni, C. perfringens, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., S. aureus, and V. parahaemolyticus). Among raw materials, E. coli ($1.39{\sim}2.08\;\log\;CFU/g$) were detected in 4 out of 6 meats and 7.46 log CFU/g of APC in tofu. High enterobacteriaceae levels of 4.23, 5.14 and 4.19 log CFU/g were found in cucumber salad, steamed spinach with seasonings and steamed bean sprout with seasonings, respectively. No pathogens were found in all samples except for C. perfringens detected from raw spinach and raw lotus root. Only APC and enterobacteriaceae were found in food-contact surfaces. Two of the 23 knives and three of the 24 kitchen boards showed over 500 CFU/$100\;cm^2$ of APC; also, APC levels (5.03 to 5.44 log CFU/g) were detected in 4 of the 12 dish towels. Only one glove showed Enterobacteriaceae (2.44 log CFU/glove) contamination. Enterobacteriaceae were found in 2 employees' hands ($2.37{\sim}4.44\;\log\;CFU$/hand) among the 16 employees. The contamination levels of air-borne bacteria were shown unacceptable in two (2.25 and 2.30 log CFU/petri-film/15 min) out of the 12 kitchen areas. These results suggest that the microbiological hazards in some foods and environments are not well controlled and thus a guideline should be provided to ensure the food safety in childcare center and kindergarten foodservice operations.