• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2017

Foodborne disease outbreaks associated with produces have been increasing in occurrence worldwide. This study investigated microbial contamination levels on thirteen kinds of agricultural products from farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with foodborne illness. A total of 1,820 samples were collected in major cultivating area from 2013 through 2015, and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study for four kinds of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.01 to 7.18 log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for watermelon. Coliforms were detected in 651 samples (35.8%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of more than 5 log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 169 samples (9.3%) ranging from < 0.01 to 2.48 log CFU/g among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 14 samples (0.7%) with a minimum of 0.01 log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.69 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected in 101 samples (5.5%) among 1,820 samples. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of several agricultural products determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment (MRA).

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2022

School meals are prepared based using the HACCP system, which is designed to ensure the physical and mental health of students. However, operational recommendations in school cafeterias have changed due to COVID-19 and include delays in serving time to restrict the number of meals and the installation of screens to prevent droplet transmission. Unfortunately, these changes may have detrimentally affected hygiene practices and generated new food poisoning sources. This study aimed to determine the hygiene state of school cafeterias in the Gyeongnam area from December 2020 to September 2021 based on the monitoring of total aerobic and coliform bacteria. Kitchen floors were the most contaminated areas with an average number of total aerobic bacteria of 4.3 log CFU/100 cm², whereas counts in dining areas were relatively low at 0.1~3.5 log CFU/100 cm². Newly installed partitioned areas had the lowest contamination level of 0.1~2.8 log CFU/100 cm². Escherichia coli was not detected on any surface, while coliform was detected on workbenches and floors. In conclusion, hygienic practices appear to have been adequately managed in school cafeterias despite COVID-19 driven changes. Nonetheless, continuous monitoring is recommended to ensure prompt response to changing environments.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.594-600
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• 2016

This study aimed to examine the microbial contamination levels in livestock products at retail stores. Beef, pork, and chicken samples from raw materials and final products were obtained between January and December 2015. All homogenized meat samples (25 g) were tested for the aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC), and Escherichia coli count (E. coli). The highest APCs in meat samples, by month, at retail shops were obtained in September, followed by July, May, and October (p<0.001). However, APC was the highest in summer and the lowest in winter (p<0.001). Average APCs for beef, pork, and chicken samples were 2.90, 3.19, and 3.79 Log CFU/g, respectively (p<0.05). A comparison between different months revealed that, CC levels in meat samples ranged from 0 to 1.13 CFU/g, and the highest CC was obtained in August (p<0.001). By season, the highest CC was found in the summer, followed by autumn, and spring (p<0.001). All meat samples were negative for E. coli. The average log₁₀APC and CC for all samples was 3.10 and 0.37 Log CFU/g, respectively. Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between the season and coliform presence (p<0.001). There was also a positive correlation between the APC and CC (r = 0.517, p<0.001). The microbiological APCs for livestock products were in most cases below 10⁶ CFU/g.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.434-440
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to investigate the microbiological quality and antimicrobial susceptibilities of the ready-to-eat side dishes, which are were collected from the grocery stores, big markets, and department stores in Seoul throughout November, 2007. Of total 124 samples, presence of staphylococci and enteric bacilli was observed in 38 samples (31%) and 53 samples (43%), respectively. And 30 samples (24%) were shown to be of unsatisfactory quality for total bacterial count (>$10^5$). Antimicrobial susceptibilities of the staphylococci isolated from the side dishes were tested for six different antimicrobial agents, which are in widespread clinical use in Korea, as well as four new antimicrobials, daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin and tigecycline. As a result, the staphylococcal isolates were found to be resistant to oxacillin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), teicoplanin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), mupirocin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), linezolid (${MIC}_{90}$, 128 ${\mu}g$/ ml) and quinupristin/dalfopristin (${MIC}_{90}$, 32 ${\mu}g$/ml). Especially, some of the staphylococcal isolates exhibited high level and multi-drug resistance. Moreover, these bacteria were also resistant to new antimicrobials, except tigecycline.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2022

Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) has potential risks associated with pathogenic bacterial contamination as it is usually consumed raw. In this study, we investigated the microbiota of Chinese chives purchased from traditional markets and grocery stores in March (Spring) and June (Summer) 2017. Differences in bacterial diversity were observed, and the microbial composition varied across sampling times and sites. In June, potential pathogenic genera, such as Escherichia, Enterobacter, and Pantoea, accounted for a high proportion of the microbiota in samples purchased from the traditional market. A large number of pathogenic bacteria (Acinetobacter lwoffii, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens) were detected in the June samples at a relatively high rate. In addition, the influence of the washing treatment on Chinese chive microbiota was analyzed. After storage at 26℃, the washing treatment accelerated the growth of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) because it caused dynamic shifts in Chinese chive indigenous microbiota. These results expand our knowledge of the microbiota in Chinese chives and provide data for the prediction and prevention of food-borne illnesses.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.3 s.54
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• pp.283-289
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• 2006

In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer demand for bottled waters. There is a perception that consumption of natural mineral water represents a healthy life style and that these products are relatively safe. In this study, the microbiological quality of 39 samples of bottled water, purchased from retail store in Korea, was investigated during the 2005. Applying pour plate method, the 1 mL of water samples were analyzed for the presence and enumeration of total general bacteria and Pseudomonas spp.. Nineteen samples representing 9 brands of bottled water contained general bacteria ($1.54{\times}10^2$ CFU/mL). In addition four samples contained Pseudomonas spp. and Camamonas acidovorans. The susceptibility of the strains tested against 25 antimicrobial agents, Pseudomonas fluorescens were resistant to Lincomycin, Amoxacilin/Clavulanic acid and Cefazolin (> $100{\mu}g/mL$). Also Comamonas acidovorans were intermediate to Cephalothin and resistant to Cefoperazone.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.101-113
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• 2016

To properly manage and remediate groundwater contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (TCE), it is necessary to assess natural attenuation processes of contaminants in the aquifer along with investigation of contamination history and aquifer characterization. This study evaluated natural attenuation processes of TCE at an industrial site in Korea by delineating hydrogeochemical characteristics along the flow path of contaminated groundwater, by calculating reaction rate constants for TCE and its degradation products, and by using geochemical and reactive transport modeling. The monitoring data showed that TCE tended to be transformed to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) and further to vinyl chloride (VC) via microbial reductive dechlorination, although the degree was not too significant. According to our modeling results, the temporal and spatial distribution of the TCE plume suggested the dominant role of biodegradation in attenuation processes. This study can provide a useful method for assessing natural attenuation processes in the aquifer contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons and can be applied to other sites with similar hydrological, microbiological, and geochemical settings.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.283-292
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• 1985

A sanitary quality of a university foodservice establishment was assessed in terms of time and temperature, pH and Aw, and microbiological evaluation. Critical control points during various phases in product flow of fried fish cake soup were identified using hazard analysis concept. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Time and temperature data indicated that phases of holding ingredients at room temperature after cooking, and hot - holding of soup before assembly were critical. 2) pH and Aw values were in favorable for microbial growth. 3) Microbiological data indicated that microbial quality of ingredients was in poor condition. A holding practice of cooked ingredients at room temperature might provide the chance for microbial contamination and multiplication. Hot - holding time and temperature of soup should be strictly controlled to assure the food safety, since the microbial quality of serving food can be directly influenced by the hot - holding temperature of soup. 4) Microbiological test results for food containers, equipments, working surfaces, and supplies indicated that sanitary conditions of earthenware, gloves, wiping cloths and cutting board should be improved promptly. 5) Critical control points identified were : ingredients, pre - preparation, post - preparation, and holding before assembly and service. 6) Guidelines for the effective quality control program for this operation were suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify HACCP-based CCP and CP from the microbial quality assessment on the process of side dish (stir-fried dried-shrimp with garlic stems) production in the meal service operation for the elderly. Total plate counts (TPC) of fresh garlic stalks were $7.80{\times}10^{3}$ CFU/g and they were above the standard value of microbial growth potential. The TPC, Coliform and E.coli were not detected in the dried shrimps. The TPCs after rinsing and slicing the garlic stems were $2.5{\times}10^{2}$ CFU/g and $5.5{\times}10^{2}$ CFU/g, respectively. The TPC number of cook’s hand and cutting board were also exceeded the standard limit with values of $2.2{\times}10^{2}$ CFU/g and $10.0{\times}10$ CFU/g, respectively. However, the TPC, Coliform and E.coli were not detected in the other cooking instruments. The identified CCP in inspection step was fresh garlic stems and that of prepreparation step was slicing the stems after blanching. Cook’s hand and cutting board were also verified as CCP and the other steps in cooking process and utensils tested were identified as CP’s. These result’s suggest that it is important to control the microbial contamination of raw materials at purchasing step and the sanitary education program should be developed for the employees for continuous supplement of safe and sound meal service for the elderly.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine microbiological assessment on edible ices, which is one of mandatory items for HACCP application, and to provide basic scientific data for the improvement of HACCP system. In HACCP applied edible ice companies, the contamination levels of total counts, yeast and mold, and coliform from raw materials, mixed samples before sterilization, mixed samples after sterilization, and final products of edible ices were lower than those of non-HACCP applied edible ice companies. Foodborne pathogens, such as L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., B. cereus, B. aureus, Y. enterocolitica were not detected in all samples of edible ices from HACCP applied edible ice companies, but S. aureus was isolated1 from 1 raw material, 1 mixed samples before sterilization and 1 final product of edible ices from non-HACCP applied edible ice companies, respectively.