• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Development of water recycle technologies is important for human health and sustainable agriculture. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the purification methods or the water quality of reclaimed wastewater in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the different wastewaters including reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution (NS) were evaluated. The changes of water quality in reclaimed wastewater and NS were determined using ultraviolet (UV) treatment and sand filtration with charcoal. Our results showed that one of the most critical limitations of reusing wastewater was the presence of harmful pathogens that possibly cause human health risks. CONCLUSION(s): This study suggests that the application of UV treatment or combined with sand filtration on reclaimed wastewater and waste NS effectively removes the total coliform bacteria below the harmful or acceptable level. For future studies, a long-term field monitoring after applying reclaimed wastewater or NS is needed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2018

We investigated the levels of microbial contaminants and microbial hazards during dried-laver processing. We analyzed 321 samples obtained from 18 dried-laver Pyropia spp. manufacturing facilities, including water, swab-, and processing samples as well as final products. The levels of microbial contaminants, including viable cell counts (VCC) and coliform bacteria, increased as processing progressed. The sanitary indicator bacterium, Escherichia coli, was not detected in the final products although VCC levels were high, generally exceeding 5 log CFU/g. We also investigated changes in microbial contaminants at each processing step. Both VCC and total coliform dramatically increased after 4 days of continuous processing, indicating that microbial contaminants originated, mainly, from cross contamination during processing.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.615-620
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• 2007

Commercially packed kimchi products from 6 different manufacturers, which are exported overseas as well as sold domestically, were analyzed to determine their microorganism distributions and presence of pathogenic bacteria. All samples showed decreasing pH levels (from 5.7-6.2 to 3.9-4.3) and increasing titratable acidities (from 0.3-0.4 to 0.8-1.2%) during 15 days of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. Total bacterial counts ranged from $2.1{\times}10^5-1.9{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ in the initial kimchi samples, and then increased to $1.1{\times}10^8-1.8{\times}10^9\;CFU/mL$. The coliform numbers decreased from approximately $2.5{\times}10^2-1.7{\times}10^4\;CFU/mL$ to zero. Major foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Shigella spp. were not detected in any of the samples. However, 2 out of the 6 samples carried E. coli, emphasizing the need for improved hygiene practice. Interestingly, Hafnia alvei, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, was isolated in all of the samples. Further study is needed on this newly reported bacterium in kimchi.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2012

This study was conducted to assess the levels of microbiological hazards of preprocessed Namuls, which were served at the school foodservice. 19 preprocessed ground or root vegetables were collected from 21 schools in May to June of 2011. Heavy contamination of aerobic plate counts (from 3.39 to 8.42 logCFU/g) and total coliform groups (from 3.16 to 7.84 logCFU/g), enterobacteriaceaes (from 2.53 to 7.55 logCFU/g) were detected in preprocessed Namuls. In addition, the detection rates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus (emetic form) were 4.3%, 11.7% and 2.1%, respectively. In addition, sanitary indicative bacterium at preprocessing steps of root vegetables (lotus root, burdock root, bellflower root) and blanched Namuls (bracken, sweet potato vine, chinamul) were analyzed. Aerobic plate counts, coliform groups, and enterobacteriaceaes were not effectively removed during preprocessing including washing and soaking steps. In the case of blanched Namuls (bracken, sweet potato vine, chinamul), contamination levels increased more after drying process and no significant reduction effect on the levels of microbial contamination was observed during preprocessing steps. Thus, effect of preprocessing steps on the microbiological hazards in Namuls must be reevaluated to improve the microbiological quality of preprocessed Namuls at the school foodservice and retail markets.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2002

A bacterium isolated from contaminated white ginseng was indentified by using API kit and electron microscope. The isolate was determined as rod shaped bacterium having 0.6-1.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter and 1.2-3.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in length. It had motility by flagellum. The isolate had $\beta$-galactosidase, arginine dihydrolase and omithin decarboxylase. It used citrate as sole carbon source but not produced H$_2$S. It also fermented glucose, manitol, sorbitol, rhamnose, sucrose, melibiose, arabinose and amygdalin. The isolate was identified as Enterobacter sp by the above API kit analysis and electron microscopy observation. Ginseng saponin was added to culture of Enterobacter sp. in order to investigate saponin's influence on its growth. The strain was incubated at 38$^{\circ}C$ for 3 days after addition of 0.05, 0.5, 2.0 and 4.0% (w/v) of saponin, respectively and the growth rates were investigated. The relative bacterial growth rates showed 75.0, 37.5, 7.5 and 0.5%, respectively, when compared with 100% of saponin non-added group. These results suggest that the growth of Enterobacter sp. is inhibited by saponin with the concentration dependency.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2017

The object of this study is to assess physicochemical and microbiological hazards involved during the processing of shellfish products such as oysters, clam, and mussels. Samples including raw materials, intermediates, and final products in the processing process were collected from seven simple-processed shellfish facilities. In the samples obtained from the facilities, viable cell count and coliform group were detected less than that of the Korean Government guidelines. In addition, the high-risk bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella sp., and Listeria monocytogenes were not identified in raw materials and final products. However, the low-risk pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, were detected in some final products. The level of heavy metal content in the final products tested in this study meets the recommendations by the Korean Government standard guidelines. No foreign materials in the final products were also observed. Considering these results, it was concluded that no significant food hazards exists in the processing process of simple-processed shellfish products. However, it is essential to improve the food safety control in the shellfish processing facilities since S. aureus, a personal sanitary indicative bacterium, was continuously detected over seven simple-processed shellfish facilities.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2021

This study investigated the microbial community and quality characteristics of traditional soybean pastes (doenjang) based on the aging period in Gyeongnam province. The samples were collected from seven regions in Gyeongnam Province (Goseong, Hadong, Haman, Hamyang, Sacheon, Sancheong and Uiryeong). Contents of moisture, salinity, pH, and acidity of doenjang after 210 days aging were 56.40~65.21%, 9.05~16.08%, 4.88~6.86 and 0.64~2.14%, respectively. Lightness significantly decreased over the aging period, while the redness tended to increase over the aging period. Yellowness was from 21.39~26.81 to 21.10~28.36. Reducing sugar content was from 0.31~1.45% to 0.11~3.13%. The amino-type content increased from 141.87~495.13 mg/100 g to 328.53~823.67 mg/100 g. In contrast, the ammonia-type content declined from 136.74~364.70 mg/ 100 g to 128.62~331.00 mg/100 g. The overall total microbial count did not significantly differ, but it tended to decrease in sample GD4. Fungus declined overall or was not detected. Coliform groups were not detected in all samples. Lactobacillus and Bacillus cereus tended to decrease over the aging period. The common fungus and bacterium were Aspergillus oryzae and Tetragenococcus halophilus, respectively. After the aging period, the predominant fungi were Candida versatilis, Candida apicola, and Debaryomyces hansenii. The predominant bacteria were Tetragenococcus halophilus and Cronobacter sakazakii.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.542-549
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• 2017

To evaluate bacteriological and toxicological safety, the hygienic indicator bacterium and paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxins in the shellfish produced in the Kamakman Area from 2012 to 2016 were investigated. Fecal coliforms and E. coli of all 194 oyster samples tested did not exceed 230 MPN/100 g. The geometric mean of the fecal coliform analyzed with the oyster samples of harvesting period was 19.6 MPN/100 g, which was more stable than the non-harvesting period (26.5 MPN/100 g). For the toxicological evaluation of the Kamakman Area, 77 oyster samples and 350 mussel samples as an indicator were analyzed. Paralytic shellfish toxins were detected very low in the range of $40{\sim}46{\mu}g$/100 g in 13 mussel samples during late April and early June, but not in oyster samples. Diarrhetic shellfish toxin was detected in 2 of 180 samples, but it was found to be below the regulation value (0.16 mg OA equ./kg). Based on the bacteriological studies, it was confirmed that the shellfish produced in Kamakman area meets the standard of shellfish hygiene of the Food Sanitation Act and meets the Grade A of the shellfish production area of EU. As the results of the paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxin evaluation, it was confirmed that the Kamakman Area is also toxicologically safe for shellfish production.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.404-411
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• 2018

To evaluate bacteriological and toxicological safety hygienic indicator bacterium and paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxins in the shellfish produced in Hansan Geojeman 2013-2017 were investigated. Fecal coliforms were < 18~330 MPN/100 g in 404 oyster samples. But all samples tested, did not exceed 230 E. coli MPN/100 g. Geometric mean of E. coli for oyster samples collected during major shellfish production period was 24.3 MPN/100 g, considerde stable results. Bacteriological quality of oysters collected from Hansan Geojeman meets the standard value based on shellfish hygiene of the Food Sanitation Act of Korea and also meets Grade A, according to classification of shellfish harvesting areas of the European Union. For toxicological evaluation of Hansan Geojeman, 532 oyster samples and 268 mussel samples as an indicator, were analyzed. Paralytic shellfish toxins were detected in the range of 0.42~2.29 mg/kg in eight mussel samples, and exceeded criteria in three samples from early to late April 2013. Diarrhetic shellfish toxin was detected in three of 120 samples, but it was revealed to be under regulation value (0.16 mg Okadaic Acid equ./kg). As a result of toxicological evaluation, paralytic and diarrhetic shellfish toxins were not detected in oyster samples, but it was found that mussel as an indicator species, exceeded the threshold value of paralytic shellfish toxin. Accordingly, sanitary surveys were continuously requested for food safety management of shellfish.