• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate awareness of hand washing, hand washing behavior, and the levels of indicator microorganisms on hands of food handlers who work in the food court and cafeteria of a university campus. The three methods used were questionnaire survey by interview, direct observation in restrooms, and microbiological examination according to the Food Code of Korea. A positive attitude toward hand washing compliance was reported by the responded food handlers; however, improper hand washing and poor hand hygiene of the food handlers were recognized by the unnoticed direct observation. Significant differences were found between the questionnaire survey and the direct observation (p < 0.05) in hand washing compliance after using the toilet, duration of hand washing, use of hand washing agent, washing different parts of the hands, hand-drying method, temperature of water, and method of turning off the water. Samples taken from their hands before work showed higher level of standard plate count, total and fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli than those taken after washing with water. After washing hands with antiseptic liquid soap, the bacterial populations including Staphylococcus aureus on hands were dramatically reduced. This study indicates that there is a remarkable difference between the food handlers' awareness of hand washing and their hand washing behavior. Poor hand washing compliance and hand hygiene were indicated by the positive results of total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, and S. aureus on hands of some food handlers. The findings of this study suggest that the hand hygiene of the food handlers need to be improved. More training/education on hand washing and hand hygiene of the food handlers should be necessary.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.574-580
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• 2020

In this study we sought to determine the food fraud by discriminating species of commercial seafood product such as Larimichthys polyactis, Larimichthys crocea, Pennahia argentatus, and Miichthys miiuy, which are difficult to morphologically discriminate. After amplifying the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of the reference fish, the DNA sequences of the amplified PCR products were analyzed. As a result, a 655 bp sequence for species identification was selected for use as DNA barcodes. To confirm the DNA data and primer set, the DNA barcode sequence of each fish was compared to that in that in the NCBI. All of the DNA barcode data were matched with the gene sequence of each fish in the NCBI. A total of 32 processed seafood products (8 L. polyactis, 12 L. crocea, 3 Pennahia argentatus, and 9 Miichthys miiuy) were investigated. Homology of 97% or more in DNA sequences was judged as the same species. As a result of the monitoring, there were no discovered cases of forgery or alteration. However, the use of a raw material name having no matching standard name in the Korea Food Code may cause consumer confusion. Therefore, it is suggested that the standard name or scientific name be co-labeled with the raw material name on seafood products to prevent consumer confusion.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.542-550
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• 2019

To detect Escherichia coli from agri-food and production environments, a device based on IoT (internet of things) technology that can check test results in real time on a mobile phone has been developed. The efficiency of the developed device, which combines an incubator equipped with a UV lamp, a high-resolution camera and software to detect E. coli in the field, was evaluated by measuring the device's temperature, detection limit, and detection time. The device showed a difference between its programmed temperature setting and actual temperature of about 1.0℃. In a detection limit test performed with a single-colony inoculation, a color change to yellow and a florescent signal were detected after 12 and 15 h incubations, respectively. The incubation time also decreased along with increasing bacteria levels. When applying the developed method and device to various samples, including utensils, gloves, irrigation water, seeds, and vegetables, detection rates of E. coli using the device were higher than those of the Korean Food Code method. These results show that the developed protocol and device can efficiently detect E. coli from agri-food production environments and vegetables.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.323-334
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• 2008

This experiment was carried out to analyze for pesticide residues in 17 different types of the special of geographical indication. We purchased 3 cereal grains, nuts and seeds, 3 fruits, 8 vegetables, mushrooms and other plants (Korean medicines) mainly at the agricultural cooperative's joints markets. Total 209 pesticides including multi-analysed pesticides (204) and single-analysed pesticides (5 ; acephate, methamidophos, monocrotophos, omethoate, vamidothion) were analysed with a GC/MS/MS, an HPLC/UVD (PDA) and a GC/FPD. No. 83 method and single-analysed method (Screening of multi-pesticide residue in the special products of geographical indication) of Korea Food Code was selected for validation in recovery and interferences of matrice. The results were as follows: among the selected 17 the special products, the residual pesticides were detected in 8 types of the special products (40 in 302 samples, detection ratio; 13.2%). All of the samples were not detected over MRLs, but tebuconazole, procymidone and isoprothioran were detected with considerable high frequency. These results could be used as KFDA official methods for the analysis of pesticide residues in foods and reference data will be provided to the related institutions.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.201-215
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• 1999

Limited information is available on the acceptability of Korean MRLs(maximum residue limits) and the health risk based on the pesticide exposure by food intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate TMDI(theoretical maximum daily intake) and EDI(estimated daily intake) for Korean by using MRLs, food intake, residue data, and correction factors, and compare with ADI(acceptable daily intake) in order to estimate the health risk based on the pesticide exposure. The study was performed in three steps. In the frist step, the residual pesticides in each category of food were investigated using the pesticide residue analytical data(1995-96) from officially approved organizations and the analytical data for poultry was adopted from Korean food code method. In the second step, TMDI was estimated from MRLs and food factors, and was compared with ADI. In the third step, the effectiveness of each culinary treatment (washing, peeling, steaming, boiling, and salting) was evaluated and EDI was calculated using pesticide residue data, food factor, and correction factor by treatment. TMDI obtained from MRLs and food intake, and food intake was summed as 1,100.99 g, which was 79.1% of total consumption. The percent ratio of TMDI to ADI for 156 pesticides was mostly below 80% and only 30 pesticides exceeded the ADI. In particular, non-treated EDI from pesticide residue data and food intake was summed up to about 43 $\mu\textrm{g}$/day/capita, and the rank was procymidone(8.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$) > maleic hydrazide(8.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$) > EPN(3.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$) > deltamethrin(3.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) > cypermethrin(3.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$). The treated EDI calculated from pesticide residue data, food intake, and correction factor by culinary treatment was summed up to 13.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/day/captia. The percentage of ADI was TMDI(79.74%) > non-treated EDI (0.17%) > treated EDI (0.04%), and the exposure level of Korean population to whole pesticides was below the level to produce health risk. Oncogenic risk of five pesticides used in Korea whose oncogenic potency(Q*) was known were assessed from TMDI and treated EDI. Dietary oncogenic risk for Korean was estimated to be 2.0$\times$10-3 on the basis of TMDI, 8.3$\times$10-7 on the basis of treated EDI. The oncogenic risk from TMDI exceeded the risk level(1$\times$10-6) of EPA, whereas the oncogenic risk from treated EDI and real exposure level lower than that of EPA.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.331-341
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• 2021

DNA barcode sequences of commercial seafood products, which are difficult to morphologically discriminate, were analyzed to determine cases of food fraud. The gene sequences were analyzed by amplifying the COX I (cytochrome C oxidase subunit I) gene region of mitochondrial DNA, which is mainly used for species identification. The DNA barcode sequences were compared with the gene sequence of each fish registered in the US National Center for Biotechnology. A total of 46 processed seafood products (12 Pagrus majo, 4 Oplegnathus fasciatus, 7 Dentex tumifrons, 2 Acanthopagrus schlegelii, 7 Oreochromis niloticus, 6 Branchiostegus japonicus, 8 Branchiostegus albus) were investigated. Having DNA sequence identity of more than 97% was judged as the same species. As a result of this study, no cases of forgery and alteration were detected. However, some disparities in the commercial names used in local markets and the standard names given in the Korea Food Code were found, which may cause confusion for consumers. It is therefore suggested that the standard name or scientific name be displayed on seafood product labels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effect of cooking time on the internal temperature and color of cutlets and the reduction of indicator organisms in cutlets by cooking. Methods: Three kinds of commercially packed frozen cutlets (pork, chicken and fish cutlets), were purchased from local markets. The cutlets were cooked in a frying pan at $180^{\circ}C$ for four minutes. Internal temperature was measured with a food thermometer. Color was measured using a Hunter spectrocolorimeter. Aerobic colony counts, coliforms, and Escherichia coli were determined according to the Food Code of Korea. Results: The internal cooked temperature of every cutlet reached over $74^{\circ}C$, the temperature considered safe, after three minutes, while external temperature reached this level in two minutes (p < 0.001). The instrumental color value as lightness (L) in the cooked cutlets significantly changed (p < 0.001) after one minute. The level of aerobic colony counts of fresh cutlets was under the specification and was reduced to one tenth its level in the cooked cutlets. Coliforms and E. coli were not detected in all samples. The internal temperature of the cutlets was significantly affected by cooking time and weight (p < 0.001). The interaction effect of time and weight was also significant (p < 0.001), and time was the more influential factor. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the sampled cutlets should be cooked for a minimum of three minutes or more in order to ensure food safety. The results also indicate that if consumers cease cooking based on external temperature or color, there will be a risk of inadequate cooking.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2010

Wild and cultured fish including olive flounder, sea bass, rock bream, yellowtail, gray mullet, gizzard shad, black rockfish, red seabream and squid were collected from a fish market located on the coast of Korea, and the antibiotic content of their muscle was investigated. Tetracycline group antibiotics were not detected in the 108 individuals of 9 species of wild fish. However, oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline(TC) were detected in some samples of the 111 individuals in 7 cultured live fish species. The detected ranges of OTC and TC were ND~ 0.06 and ND~ 0.03, respectively. Five different fluoroquinolone antibiotics were also tested for, but were not detected in the wild fish species. Only small amount of criprofloxacin(ND~0.029 mg/kg) were detected in a few cultured fish samples. Oxolinic acid was not detected in either wild and cultured fish samples. Results showed that even very low levels of antibiotics could be detected by the testing methods used. Antibiotics were identified in a few fish samples but levels were far below the maximum allowable limits of the Korean Food Code, and the safety of fish being sold in markets, with regard to antibiotic levels, was confirmed.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.272-277
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• 2018

This research was conducted to elucidate the optimum conditions for the antibacterial activity of konjak jelly using the evolutionary operation-factorial design technique. In the first set of experiments, concentration of a coagulation agent, soaking liquid, and temperature of water were set to 0.4%, $0.6{\times}10^{-2}N$, and $65^{\circ}C$ as a central point, respectively. The highest antibacterial activity was acquired at E21, in which the number of bacteria was 1.25 log cfu/g. Because the code of changes in the main effect was (-), it could be decided that the central point of the first set was not the optimum point. Although antibacterial activity in the second set was improved, the values of the main effect were higher than that of changes in the mean effect. The central point of third set was concentration of coagulation agent 0.8%, concentration of soaking liquid $1.0{\times}10^{-2}N$, and temperature of water $65^{\circ}C$. It was found that the antibacterial activity of central point in the third set was highest among all the tested set. Further, all the necessary conditions were appropriate to reach the optimum condition. The antibacterial activity of the central point in third set was more than 1,000 times higher than that of E11, in first set.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2141-2150
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop a screening method using Colilert-18 and a device for the detection of E. coli from agri-food production environments and fresh vegetables. The specificity and sensitivity of Colilert-18 by temperature ($37^{\circ}C$ and $44^{\circ}C$) were evaluated with 38 E. coli and 78 non-E. coli strains. The false-positive rate was 3.8% (3/78) and 0% (0/78) at $37^{\circ}C$ and $44^{\circ}C$, respectively. The detection limit of E. coli at $37^{\circ}C$ at <1.0 log CFU/250 ml was lower than that at $44^{\circ}C$. The efficiency of the developed device, which comprised an incubator equipped with a UV lamp to detect E. coli in the field, was evaluated by measuring the temperature and UV lamp brightness. The difference between the set temperature and actual temperature of the developed device was about $1.0^{\circ}C$. When applying the developed method and device to various samples, including utensils, gloves, irrigation water, seeds, and vegetables, there were no differences in detection rates of E. coli compared with the Korean Food Code method. For sanitary disposal of culture samples after experiments, the sterilization effect of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets was assessed for use as a substitute for an autoclave. The addition of one tablet of NaDCC per 50 ml was sufficient to kill E. coli cultured in Colilert-18. These results show that the developed protocol and device can efficiently detect E. coli from agri-food production environments and vegetables.