• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.165-170
• /
• 2010

Although the demand of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as Kimbab is growing, large quantities and wide distribution of these foods is difficult due to their short shelf-life, exposed packaging with hygienic risk, and decreased quality at refrigerator temperatures. This study was undertaken to develop preservation and storage methods to extend the shelf-life of RTE rice products using microwave and packaging methods such as vacuum and modified atmosphere packages. RTE rice ball samples inoculated with Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus cereus were microwave treated for 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds. Populations of pathogens on the rice balls were significantly reduced with an increase in treatment time. There were more than 5 log reductions of all pathogens when the samples were microwave treated for 60 seconds. RTE rice balls inoculated with two pathogens (S. aureus and B. cereus) were packaged via air, vacuum, $N_2$ gas, and $CO_2$ gas following microwave treatment for 90 seconds. The initial S. aureus and B. cereus concentration before treatment was 7.60 and 6.59 log CFU/g, and these levels were reduced by 3.37 and 2.18 log CFU/g after microwave treatment. The levels of pathogens were significantly increased during storage time at room temperature. $CO_2$ packaging was the most effective at inhibiting microbial growth among the tested packaging methods. The levels of total mesophilic count, S. aureus and B. cereus after 5 days of storage were 7.7, 8.8 and 9.3 log CFU/g in air packaged samples and 2.4, 3.2 and 8.3 log CFU/g in $CO_2$ gas packaged samples, respectively. However, after 3 days of storage higher levels of B. cereus were observed in all samples, indicating that the samples were not safe to be consumed. Base on these results, microwave treatment and MAP packaging methods using $CO_2$ gas could be used as a potential method for extending the shelf-life of RTE foods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.521-524
• /
• 2016

This study aimed to examine variations in the texture profile analysis (TPA) of cooked rice in relation to the instrumental parameter conditions. The TPA of four types of ready-to-eat, white rice products was conducted in two levels of compression ratio (30 and 70%) and cross-head speed (0.5 and 1.0 mm/s). The properties of the four rice products significantly or non-significantly differed, depending on the instrumental parameter condition. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering, based on the five TPA properties such as hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and springiness, revealed that clustering of the four rice products varied with the instrumental parameter condition. Additionally, the ratio of adhesiveness to hardness, an index of rice texture quality, showed a variation depending on the two instrumental parameter conditions. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the texture profile, texture-based sample clustering, and the ratio of adhesiveness to hardness vary with the compression ratio and cross-head speed in the TPA.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.31-35
• /
• 2002

According to food poisoning statistic data of 2000, the food poisoning outbreaks have occurred mainly by meat (27.9%), shellfish and its processed products (26.0%), and ready-to eat meals (24.0%) such as Kimbap and packed lunch boxes. The major causative flood poisoning bacteria were Salmonella spp. (35.6%), Staphylococcus aureus(11.3%) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (3.2%). In this study, we conducted the isolation and enumeration for S. aureus in Kimbap. This monitoring data will be applied to the following study, risk assessment. The Kimbap samples were collected from department stores, convenient stores and snack bars located in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju. The overall isolation rate of S. aureus from 214 Kimbap samples was 34.1% and the average count was 623 cells. Enterotoxin typing test for isolates showed 42.5%, 4.1% and 2.7% for type, A, B and C, respectively. There was no significant seasonal difference in S. aureus isolation, but the average count in summer(793 cfu/g) was 1.8 times higher than that of winter(446 cfu/g).

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2015

Heating patterns depending on the packaging materials were examined in order to investigate the causes of thermal deformation of packages used for ready-to-eat foods for microwave heating due to the non-uniformity of microwaves. Physical properties including tensile strength, heat-resistance and elongation of four different CPP grades were compared. High retortable CPP had higher sealing strength and heat resistance compared to the conventional CPPs. All CPP samples tested were proved to have melting temperatures around $160^{\circ}C$. However, they were all thermally deformed by microwave heating due to a limited penetration of microwave and non-uniform heating within the spicy sauce of high viscosity contained high salt, especially on the above the filling line and sealing edge of pouches. When the laminated stand-up pouches composed of G-PET/PET/PET/CPP and G-PET/PET/NY/CPP were retorted and microwaved, significant deformations were noticed in both samples after retorting. Besides, pouches contained titanium dioxide showed more intense thermal deformation than the control. When the $10{\mu}m$ aluminium foil was affixed on the pouch, small thermal deformation was observed only in the bottom layer. More studies are required to prevent the thermal deformation of packaging materials used for RTE foods during microwave heating by developing the technologies to increase the thermal stability of CPP layer and the modification of packaging design to modify the microwave access into the package.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.480-487
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The study examined the Chinese and Japanese consumers' preference for Korean home meal replacement (HMR) product package designs using conjoint analysis. Methods: The questionnaire survey was completed by 270 consumers living in Beijing, China and Osaka, Japan, over the age of 20 years old, who had previously purchased or consumed a Korean HMR. Based on the attributes and levels within each attribute related to the Korean HMR product package design, 54 profiles were constructed. Of the 54 profiles, 11 combinations were selected using an orthogonal design, and the participants were asked to rank the 11 combinations in order of preference from top to bottom. Results: The relative importance of the Korean HMR product package design attributes were analyzed. Chinese consumers regarded illustration, ingestion form, concept, and brand name, in that order, to be most important. In the case of Japanese consumers, illustration, concept, ingestion form, and brand name, in that order, were most important. For the illustration attributes, in order of importance, Chinese consumers preferred raw materials, characters, and celebrities, and Japanese consumers preferred characters, raw materials, and celebrities. For the concept attributes, Chinese consumers favored, witty, traditional Korean, and modern concepts, whereas Japanese consumers favored witty, modern, and then traditional Korean concepts. For the ingestion form attributes, both Chinese and Japanese consumers preferred Ready To Eat (RTE), followed by Ready To Heat (RTH), and then Ready To Cook (RTC). For the brand name attributes, both Chinese and Japanese consumers preferred the localized brand name over the Korean brand name. Conclusion: Differences in the relative importance of Korean HMR product package design attributes were observed among Chinese and Japanese consumers, and there were differences in preference according to the levels within each attribute. These results are expected to provide useful basic data to assist in the future development of differentiated HMR package designs and marketing strategies to meet consumer needs in the market for Korean HMR in China and Japan.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2011

In this study, predictive mathematical models were developed to predict the kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes growth in the mixed fresh-cut vegetables, which is the most popular ready-to-eat food in the world, as a function of temperature (4, 10, 20 and $30^{\circ}C$). At the specified storage temperatures, the primary growth curve fit well ($r^2$=0.916~0.981) with a Gompertz and Baranyi equation to determine the specific growth rate (SGR). The Polynomial model for natural logarithm transformation of the SGR as a function of temperature was obtained by nonlinear regression (Prism, version 4.0, GraphPad Software). As the storage temperature decreased from $30^{\circ}C$ to $4^{\circ}C$, the SGR decreased, respectively. Polynomial model was identified as appropriate secondary model for SGR on the basis of most statistical indices such as mean square error (MSE=0.002718 by Gompertz, 0.055186 by Baranyi), bias factor (Bf=1.050084 by Gompertz, 1.931472 by Baranyi) and accuracy factor (Af=1.160767 by Gompertz, 2.137181 by Baranyi). Results indicate L. monocytogenes growth was affected by temperature mainly, and equation was developed by Gompertz model (-0.1606+$0.0574^*Temp$+$0.0009^*Temp^*Temp$) was more effective than equation was developed by Baranyi model (0.3502-$0.0496^*Temp$+$0.0022^*Temp^*Temp$) for specific growth rate prediction of L.monocytogenes in the mixed fresh-cut vegetables.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.59-69
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the frequency, amount and consumption patterns of 50 potentially hazardous foods (PHF) along with consumers' risk perceptions towards PHF in Korea. A quantitative survey was performed from May through August by trained interviewers, surveying 1,000 adults aged over 18 who were randomly selected from six major provinces in Korea. Consumers perceived seafood, including shellfish, mussel, sashimi and sushi, as the top foods with the highest risk, followed by raw sliced beef. The food with the highest frequency intake per month was leafy vegetables, which is used to wrap other foods, followed by blanched vegetables, fried chicken, etc. The group of middle aged individuals with economic stability had the highest frequency intake of sashimi and sushi. Respondents living in small regions consume greater PHF portions at once. Food safety education with regard to the risk of PHF is essential for consumers, with high frequent intake of PHF.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2020

The application of color retention agents (3 items), preservatives (17 items), and bleaching agents (6 items) as food additives in processed foods were investigated by food type. Among color retention agents, sodium nitrite was used the most with 257 cases, mainly in seasoned jeoktal (71.21%), ready-to-eat foods (7.78%), and breads (4.87%). Of the benzoates (1,236 cases) used as a preservative, sodium benzoate showed up most, in 1,215 cases, while 81.16% of these were in beverages such as beverage base (39.51%), mixed beverages (22.47%), and ginseng/red ginseng beverages (8.89%). Grapefruit seed extracts (3,291 cases) were applied to 44 types of processed foods such as sauces (54.65%), liquid tea (10.46%), and other products (5.15%). Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2,957 cases) was applied to products (total 96.44%) such as sauces (92.15%), blended soy sauce (2.77%), and pickled foods (1.52%). Potassium sorbate was applied to a total of 789 cases, mainly pickled foods (40.43%) and processed fishery products (47.15%). All 27 cases of sorbic acid were applied to fish paste (100%). Of the bleaching agents, sodium bisulfite and sodium hydrosulfite were mainly used in confectioneries, breads or rice cakes, and potassium metabisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and sulfur dioxide were mainly found in alcoholic beverages including fruit wine, while sodium sulfite was mostly used in pickled foods. These results are deemed useful in applying food additives to processed foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.504-518
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a processed foods database (DB) for estimation of processed food intake in the Korean population using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES). Methods: Analytical values of processed foods were collected from food composition tables of national institutions (Development Institute, Rural Development Administration), the US Department of Agriculture, and previously reported scientific journals. Missing or unavailable values were substituted, calculated, or imputed. The nutrient data covered 14 nutrients, including energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C. The processed food DB covered a total of 4,858 food items used in the KNHANES. Each analytical value per food item was selected systematically based on the priority criteria of data sources. Results: Level 0 DB was developed based on a list of 8,785 registered processed foods with recipes of ready-to-eat processed foods, one food composition table published by the national institution, and nutrition facts obtained directly from manufacturers or indirectly via web search. Level 1 DB included information of 14 nutrients, and missing or unavailable values were substituted, calculated, or imputed at level 2. Level 3 DB evaluated the newly constructed nutrient DB for processed foods using the 2013 KNHANES. Mean intakes of total food and processed food were 1,551.4 g (males 1,761.8 g, females 1,340.8 g) and 129.4 g (males 169.9 g, females 88.8 g), respectively. Processed foods contributed to nutrient intakes from 5.0% (fiber) to 12.3% (protein) in the Korean population. Conclusion: The newly developed nutrient DB for processed foods contributes to accurate estimation of nutrient intakes in the Korean population. Consistent and regular update and quality control of the DB is needed to obtain accurate estimation of usual intakes using data from the KNHANES.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.501-512
• /
• 2017

This study analyzed changes in nutrient contents of children's favorite foods between March 2010 and July 2012 after policy implementation on energy-dense and nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods based on Special Act on Safety Control of Children's Dietary Life in Korea. A total of 6,684 products in the list of children's favorite foods by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in March 2010 and 7,347 products in July 2012 were classified into the following three types: food products (1) manufactured or sold in 2012 as well as 2010 (n=6,174), (2) discontinued in 2012 (n=510), and (3) newly introduced in 2012 (n=1,173). Among children's favorite foods manufactured or sold in 2012 as well as 2010 (n=6,174), calories and key nutrients in sweetened ices, breads, ice creams, deep-fried noodles/noodles, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, and pizzas were improved in comparison to those in the other food groups. However, most of the changes in calories or key nutrient contents per 100 g (or 100 mL) fell below 1 kcal or 1 g. The newly introduced candies, breads, and carbonated beverages showed slightly greater improvements in calories and key nutrient contents per 100 g (or 100 mL) than the discontinued ones in 2012. On the other hand, some negative changes were found in newly introduced chocolates and RTE foods in comparison to the discontinued ones. Overall, policy implementation on EDNP foods seemed to induce changes in nutrient contents of children's favorite foods, yet the extent of the changes was limited.