• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1154-1161
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate microbiological Quality of HACCP application in elementary school foodservice operations. Microbiological Quality of utensils and non-heated foods such as salad was measured two times at five elementary schools in Daegu. The two experimentations differed in that after the first experimentation employees were educated and trained on HACCP based sanitation standards with a goal of improving microbiological Quality of foodservice. Microbiological Quality, time, and temperature were evaluated at three critical control points (CCPs)： washing and disinfecting, personal hygiene and non-cross contamination. Micro-biological Quality was assessed using 3M petrifilm to measure total plate count and coliform group. The first experimentation showed low microbiological Quality due to cross contamination of utensils and cooking gloves; high microbiological count of the garlic, powdered red pepper, and ginger; and not thoroughly washing and disinfecting vegetables. In the second experimentation, microbiological Quality was greatly improved by washing and thoroughly disinfecting raw ingredients and utensils, and using good personal hygiene. However, microbiological Quality of seasonings was still low. Immediate corrective actions were required in one of the foodservice operations that was assessed. These results strongly suggest that foodservice operations should address non-heated food Quality. It is essential to measure microbiological Quality regularly and continually train and retrain employees on hand washing and disinfecting raw ingredients. Further studies are needed to determine whether pathogens are present in raw vegetables and seasonings.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2003

Kefir is a traditional fermented milk in Caucasusian area and is made mainly of milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Six typical kefir grains were selected from ten kefir grains collected from different locals in Korea. Kefir grains were gelatinous in texture and had various shapes of villi, grapes, leaves, hulled millets, and towels. To investigate predominant microflora of kefir grains, SPC, MRS, M17, Rogosa, and APT agar media were used for viable cell count MRS, SPC, and Rogosa media were most acceptable for bacterial cell counts of the selected kefir grains. From one or two of the SPC agar plates which contained around 25∼50 colonies, all grown colonies were isolated and identified. Most predominant bacteria was identified as Lactobacillus fermentum by API 50 CHL kit. The proportions of Lb. fermentum and Lb. brevis among the total identified bacteria were around 41~88% and M4%, respectively. To select the best preservation method for kefir grains, refrigeration, freezing, and freeze drying were compared. Freeze drying was found most suitable for the preservation of kefir grains, based upon their acid-producing activities and production of off-flavors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1343-1356
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• 2008

The evaluation of microbiological quality for school food samples collected from 19 selected middle and high schools located in Seoul was undertaken. Eighty-nine food samples consisting of 38 non-pretreated vegetables, 13 pre-washed and cut vegetables, 9 meats and poultry, 3 fish and shellfish, 7 dried fish, and shellfish and 20 processed foods were collected. Aerobic plate count, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli ) were detected using $Petrifilm^{TM}$, and the food-borne pathogens were screened by multiplex PCR with species-specific primer sets. Sequentially, the quantitative and confirmative test of the food-borne pathogens were carried out with the selective media and biochemical kits. The contamination of coliform counts was observed on the pre-washed vegetables ($3.4{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$) and meats ($2.2{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$). Also, the cooked foods were heavily contaminated with coliform, ranging from 1.0 to $5.5\;log\;CFU/g$. E. coli counts were found in 16 raw and cooked food samples, exceeding the microbiological standards for the guideline of safety management for school foods. Through PCR detection, B acillus cereus was detected in 32 raw and cooked foods, and quantitatively found in pre-washed carrot, radish, and pan-broiled dried shrimp and filefish ranging from $2.3{\sim}3.6\;log\;CFU/g$, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on frozen pork sample and was confirmed with API kit. Campylobacter jejuni was found in 3 ready-to-eat type vegetables. Vibrio parahaemolyticus were found in 4 pre-washed vegetables and 2 cooked foods, indicating unsatisfactory quality based upon the microbiological standards of ready-to-eat vegetables and cooked foods by Korea Food and Drug Administration. Salmonella spp. was detected in frozen chicken sample and confirmed by API kit and latex antisera agglutination.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.365-378
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• 2009

This study performed microbiological hazards analysis in raw food materials, cooking processes, kitchen staff, utensils, and the environment in order to obtain contamination levels of S. aureus in school foodservice operations. S. aureus was not detected in cooked foods offered by the foodservice operations; however, it was found in raw food materials prior to cooking. In the case of vegetables, S. aureus was detected in washed mung bean sprouts, parboiled mung bean sprouts, and bellflower roots both before and after disinfection, at levels of 2.2, 1.0, 1.0, and 1.0 log CFU/g, respectively. For processed foods, S. aureus was detected in one sample of packaged bean curd as well as in mung bean jelly cake at the level of 1.5 log CFU/g. For meat products, S. aureus was detected in beef brisket and chicken at levels of 2.3 and 1.3 log CFU/g, respectively. To determine microbiological hazard data for the hands and gloves of cooking personnel, the staff members were divided into two groups: a group presenting Enterobacteriaceae or coliforms, and another group presenting neither Enterobacteriaceae nor coliforms. The results showed that S. aureus was detected on the hands of staff in each group at levels of 2.0 and 2.1 log CFU/hand, respectively, and at 1.8 and 0.0 log CFU/hand on the gloves of staff in each group, respectively. Among kitchen utensils, as an environmental factor in school foodservice operations, S. aureus was detected on meat knives, mixing bowls, and dish cloths at levels exceeding 1.0 log CFU/hand.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2008

This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of raw and cooked foods served in the elementary school food service. Raw and cooked food samples were collected from 11 selected elementary schools in both June to July and September to October of 2005. Petrifilm plates were used to determine (in duplicate) total aerobic colony counts (PAC), Enterobacteriaceae (PE), coliform counts (PCC), and E. coli counts (PEC). Heavy contamination of Enterobacteriaceae (from 0.08 to 7.40 log CFU/g) and total coliform (0.50 to 6.52 log CFU/g) were observed in raw materials and cooked foods. Escherichia coli (E. coli) were detected in the sample of currant tomato (3.70 log CFU/g), sesame leaf (3.59 log CFU/g), dropwort (0.20 log CFU/g), crown daisy (3.15 log CFU/g), parsley (3.00 log CFU/g), peeled green onion (1.74 log CFU/g), frozen pork (0.65 log CFU/g), frozen beef (0.20 or 1.50 log CFU/g), chicken (1.78 log CFU/g), and young radish leaf seasoned with soybean paste (1.24 log CFU/g). Multiplex PCR system was used to determine the food-borne pathogens: Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Shigella spp., B. cereus was detected in 19 samples of raw materials and 8 samples of cooked foods. With regard to quantitative analysis, B. cereus counts exceeded 5.46, 3.48 and 1.79 log CFU/g in sesame leaf, peeled green onion and seasoned mungbean jelly, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on 2 samples of frozen beefs, and its biochemical characteristics of one beef sample was confirmed with API 20E kit (93.7%). L. monocytogenes was detected in fried rice paper dumpling, but the presumptive colonies were not detected onto the conventional plate. C. jejuni was detected in peeled & washed onion.