• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2023

The consumption of ready-to-eat side dishes is rapidly growing in South Korea. These foods are particularly vulnerable to microbiological contamination as they are often cooked without any treatment, such as heating or stored at room temperature after cooking. Hence, in 2022, we analyzed the ready-to-eat side dishes sold in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea for microbiological contamination. We collected 100 samples from supermarkets in 7 cities, and then examined them for presence of food-borne pathogens and sanitary indicator bacteria. In the analysis of the food-borne pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 51 samples (51.0%) and 3 samples (3.0%), respectively. However, both quantitatively met the Korean Food Standards Codex. Genes of five different enterotoxins and one emetic toxin were analyzed from the 51 isolated B. cereus strains. We detected enterotoxin entFM (100.0%), nheA (94.1%), hblC (58.8%), cytK (56.9%), and bceT (41.2%) in 51 isolates, and emetic toxin gene, CER, in only one (2.0%) isolate. We did not detect C. perfringens toxin gene (cpe) that causes food poisoning in any one of the three C. perfringens isolates. In the case of sanitary indicator bacteria, Kimchi had the highest levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, followed by Saengchae, Jeotgal, Jeolim, Namul, and Jorim, respectively. We counted total aerobic bacteria at two different storage temperatures (4℃ and 20℃) to determine the effect of storage temperature. When stored at 20℃, total aerobic bacteria count increased in most of the ready-to-eat side dishes, except for Jeotgal. This result conclusively shows the need for refrigerating the ready-to-eat side dishes after purchase. Further research is needed to assess the risk and safety of the ready-to-eat side dishes available in the market and determine appropriate safety management practices.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

Trifludimoxazin is a triazinone herbicide that inhibits the synthesis of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). The lack of PPO damages the cell membranes, leading to plant cell death. An official analytical method for the safety management of trifludimoxazin is necessary because it is a newly registered herbicide in Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a residual analysis method to detect trifludimoxazin in five representative agricultural products. The EN method was established as the final extraction method by comparing the recovery test and matrix effect with those of the QuEChERS method. Various sorbent agents were used to establish the clean-up method, and no differences were observed among them. MgSO₄ and PSA were selected as the final clean-up conditions. We used LC-MS/MS considering the selectivity and sensitivity of the target pesticide and analyzed the samples in the MRM mode. The recovery test results using the established analysis method and inter-laboratory validation showed a valid range of 73.5-100.7%, with a relative standard deviation and coefficient of variation less than 12.6% and 14.5%, respectively. Therefore, the presence of trifludimoxazin can be analyzed using a modified QuEChERS method, which is widely available in Korea to ensure the safety of residual insecticides.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.894-901
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• 2010

To measure the heavy metal contents of marine invertebrates, we collected 239 individuals representing 52 species from the eastern (Pohang), western (Gunsan), and southern (Tongyeong) coasts of Korea: 34 species of molluscan shellfish (Gastropoda and Bivalvia), 6 species of Cephalopoda, 8 species of Crustacea, and 4 other species. The mean levels of the heavy metals in the samples taken from the edible portion of each Gastropoda were high in the order of Zn ($21.471\;{\mu}g/g$), Cu ($4.115\;{\mu}g/g$), Mn ($0.868\;{\mu}g/g$), Ni ($0.254\;{\mu}g/g$), Pb ($0.238\;{\mu}g/g$), Cd ($0.154\;{\mu}g/g$), and Cr ($0.110\;{\mu}g/g$). The heavy metals in the Bivalvia were high in the order of Zn ($35.655\;{\mu}g/g$), Mn ($5.500\;{\mu}g/g$), Cu ($3.129\;{\mu}g/g$), Cd ($0.423\;{\mu}g/g$), Ni ($0.402\;{\mu}g/g$), Cr ($0.233\;{\mu}g/g$), and Pb ($0.232\;{\mu}g/g$). The heavy metals in the Cephalopoda were high in the order of Zn ($18.380\;{\mu}g/g$), Cu ($3.594\;{\mu}g/g$), Mn ($0.630\;{\mu}g/g$), Cr ($0.150\;{\mu}g/g$), Pb ($0.068\;{\mu}g/g$), Cd ($0.034\;{\mu}g/g$), and Ni ($0.030\;{\mu}g/g$). The heavy metals in the Crustacea were high in the order of Zn ($25.333\;{\mu}g$/g), Cu ($9.042\;{\mu}g/g$), Mn ($0.659\;{\mu}g/g$), Cr ($0.592\;{\mu}g/g$), Cd ($0.207\;{\mu}g/g$), Pb ($0.126\;{\mu}g/g$), and Ni ($0.094\;{\mu}g/g$). Therefore, the mean levels of the harmful heavy metals (Cd and Pb) in marine invertebrates were high in the order of Bivalvia>Crustacea＝Gastropoda>Cephalopoda. The average daily intakes of the heavy metals from the fisheries products were as follows: Cd ($6.88\;{\mu}g$), Cr ($19.13\;{\mu}g$), Cu ($137.02\;{\mu}g$), Mn ($156.13\;{\mu}g$), Ni ($11.39\;{\mu}g$), Pb ($7.01\;{\mu}g$) and Zn ($1,025.94\;{\mu}g$). The average weekly intakes of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn from the fisheries products were 11.47%, 0.46%, 3.27% and 1.71% respectively, as compared with PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) established by FAO/WHO Expert Committee for Food Safety Evaluation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.214-220
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess hygiene status of meals for poorly-fed children through microbiological quality. Methods: Meals were provided by two social enterprises, one franchise, and one convenience store. There were a total of six meal samples; two samples (social enterprise meal 1; SEM 1, social enterprise meal 2; SEM 2) from two social enterprises, respectively, two samples (franchise meal 1; FM 1, franchise meal 2; FM 2) from one franchise, and two samples (convenience store meal 1; CSM 1, convenience store meal 2; CSM 2) from one convenience store. Microbiological analysis and assessment were performed by Korean food standards codex (KFSC). Results: General bacteria and E. coli in SEM 1 were detected, but the levels were not over KFSC, and Coliform less than $9.2{\times}10$ CFU/g was also detected in seasoned bean sprouts of SEM 1. General bacteria was detected at $1.6{\times}10^6$ CFU/g in cabbage kimchi of SEM 2. Coliform was detected in cabbage kimchi, squid cutlet, stir-fried pork, and fried chicken of FM1 and 2, but the levels were not over KFSC. In addition, S. aureus was detected in cabbage kimchi and seasoned dried white radish of FM 1 and 2 ($9.8{\times}10^2$ CFU/g, $9.4{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively), thus was over KFSC. B. cereus was detected in stir-fried pork and fried chicken ($1.2{\times}10^3$ CFU/g, $1.5{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively) of FM 1 and 2, thus was over KFSC. Finally, S. aureus was detected in stir-fried dried squid, seasoned spicy chicken, and stir-fried kimchi of CSM 1 and 2, and was over KFSC too ($9.5{\times}10^4$ CFU/g, $2.4{\times}10^2$ CFU/g, $1.3{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that systemic management of hygiene is necessary to safely providing meals to poorly-fed children.