• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2005

Results from an innovative approach to improve remediation in the rhizosphere by encouraging healthy plant growth and thus enhancing microbial activity are reported. The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Am) on remediation efficacy of wheat, mungbean and eggplant grown in soil spiked with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was assessed in a pot experiment. The results of this study showed that Am inoculation enhanced dissipation amount of PAHs in planted soil, plant uptake PAHs, dissipation amount of PAHs in planted versus unplanted spiked soil and loss of PAHs by the plant-promoted biodegradation. A number of parameters were monitored including plant shoot and root dry weight, plant tissue water content, plant chlorophyll, root lipid content, oxido-reductase enzyme activities in plant and soil rhizosphere and total microbial count in the rhizospheric soil. The observed physiological data indicate that plant growth and tolerance increased with Am, but reduced by PAH. This was reflected by levels of mycorrhizal root colonization which were higher for mungbean, moderate for wheat and low for eggplant. Levels of Am colonization increased on mungbean > wheat > eggplant. This is consistent with the efficacy of plant in dissipation of PAHs in spiked soil. Highly significant positive correlations were shown between of arbuscular formation in root segments (A)) and plant water content, root lipids, peroxidase, catalase polyphenol oxidase and total microbial count in soil rhizosphere as well as PAH dissipation in spiked soil. As consequence of the treatment with Am, the plants provide a greater sink for the contaminants since they are better able to survive and grow.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2017

This study systemically analyzed the data on the microbial levels in fresh vegetables in Korea to identify the points to control. We scanned the studies published between 2001 and 2015 in peer-reviewed research papers on the microbial levels in fresh vegetables produced in Korea. Plant products were categorized by using the US IFSAC (Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration) category. The most consumed, the non-heat treated, the epidemiological foodborne diseases sources of fresh vegetable in foodservice (KCDC data) were identified by literature review. Articles were screened using National Digital Science Library (NDSL) search engine regarding to microbial hazards in plant products. Based on the total plate count number and coliforms on the 89 data cases from 26 published articles, the total plate count number was high in the order of sprouts, leaf and stem, bulbs and roots, vine-grown, solanaceous, melons, and pome. Escherichia coli was frequently detected in leaf and stem and sprouts products. Focused on the microbial data of leek, lettuce and cabbage, the levels of total plate count, coliforms and Bacillus cereus showed the levels of 4.15~7.69 log CFU/g, 1~6.99 log CFU/g, and 0.51~3.9 log CFU/g, respectively, by 33 published papers. The levels of environmental factors affecting the microbial safety of lettuce and leek before harvest were investigated. Manure, soil, hands, scale, gloves were the major potential microbial contamination points to control. In addition, GAP (good agricultural practice), microbial testing, and improvement of irrigation methods are required to provide the safer fresh produce.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.21 no.1 s.85
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• pp.103-109
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• 2005

In order to investigate the correlation of the physical chemical characteristics of Kimchi with its sourness and overall acceptability, the pH, the reducing sugar content, the total microbial counts and the lactic acid bacterial counts of Kimchi were examined during fermentation at $5^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. In regard to pH, the pH of the fermentation at $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ was nearly in inverse proportion to the sourness, whereas the pH at $5^{\circ}C$ fermentation was in less than inverse proportion to the sourness. For the correlation of the reducing sugar and the sourness, sourness and the reducing sugar showed an inverse proportion until the acidity reached $0.8\%\~1.0\%$. The reducing sugar content at $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ was nearly similar for the highest overall acceptability, whereas the reducing sugar content at $5^{\circ}C$ was higher than the reducing sugar content at $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. In the case of the total microbial count, the total microbial count and the sourness of Kimchi fermented at $5^{\circ}C$did not show the highest values at the same point, but the highest values of the total microbial count and the sourness of Kimchi fermented at $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ were the same at a point. Also, at a point for the best overall acceptability, the total microbial count at $10^{\circ}C$ fermentation was the highest, whereas those at $5^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ fermentation were similar. In case of the lactic acid bacterial count, the lactic acid bacterial count and the sourness at $5^{\circ}C$ fermentation did not show the highest value at the same point, but that at $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ fermentation did. For the correlation of the physical chemical characteristics with sourness, the sourness of Kimchi fermented at $5^{\circ}C$ showed a very significant correlation with acidity and it also showed a positive correlation with pH and the total microbial count, but these were not significant differences($\alpha$=$0.5\%$). At $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ fermentation, the sourness showed very significant correlation with all the physical chemical characteristics.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1997

Fried vegetable mix, fried fish mix and fried chicken which prepared as convenient style at traditional market in Chonju were collected and evaluated their chemical composition, lipid and microbial changes during storage at different temperaturefor confirming those fried food stability. The POV and AV of oil in samples and total bacterial count during storage at 5, 15, 20 and 3$0^{\circ}C$ were monitered. The POV, AV and total bacterial count tested of each sample, shelf-life can be suggested as within 1 day at 3$0^{\circ}C$, 2~3 days at 15~2$0^{\circ}C$ and over 5 days at 5$^{\circ}C$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 1996

Dryfilm method by using 3M Petrifilm$^{TM}$ has been examined to replace conventional agar method for isolation of microorganisms from foods. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate suitability of dryfilm method as a microbial isolation method and to determine the effect of antimicrobial agent on dryfilm for isolation of microorganisms from foods. Five different foods, milk, ground beef, fishery surimi, Takju and wheat flour were used to isolate the natural microflora in foods and the inoculated Escheri chia coli. Standard method agar (SMA, Difco) and Petrifilm$^{TM}$ aerobic count (PAC, 3M) were used to isolate total microorganisms from foods. Violet red bile agar (VRBA), brilliant green lactose bile (BGLB) broth and Petrifilm$^{TM}$ coliform count (PCC, 3M) were used to isolate coliforms from foods. E. coli broth (EC broth) and Petrifilm$^{TM}$ E. coli count (PEC, 3M) were used to isolate E. coli from foods. Acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA) and Petrifilm$^{TM}$ yeast & mold count (PYMC, 3M) were used to isolate yeasts and molds from foods. Total aerobic plate counts isolated from five different foods by SMA and PAC (3M) were riot significantly different each other at P<0.05 level and were highly correlated each other ($\geq$0.96). Mugwort extract as an antimicrobial agent did not affect microbial enumeratiion of Dryfilm. Significantly higher number of coliform colonies were formed on VRBA than PCC (3M) from ground beef, but they were not significantly different in coliform colonies from milk samples. PCC (3M) and BGLB were not significantly different for enumeration of coliforms in milk and beef samples. Significantly higher number of E. coli were isolated by EC broth than PEC from ground beef, but these were not significontly different for enumeration of E. coli from milk. Yeast and mold counts isolated from Takju and wheat flour by APDA and PYMC (3M) were not significantly different at P<0.05 level. These data indicate that dryfilm method by using 3M Petrifilm$^{TM}$ can be successively used as an alternative to conventional agar method for enumeration of microorganisms in various foods.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.282-290
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• 2018

This research was to evaluate microbial contamination levels in meat samples at hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)-implemented processing plants that produce beef, pork, and chicken. During a period of about a year, a total of 178 samples (76 from beef, 89 from pork, and 13 from chicken) were obtained from raw materials (21.3%) and final products (78.7%). All samples were determined for each 25 g homogenized one. Samples were analyzed to determine the total aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC), and E. coli count (ECC). By month, APC levels were the highest in September and the lowest in February (p<0.001). In comparison among season, APC levels in meat samples were the highest in the summer and the lowest in winter (p<0.001). By month, the highest CC prevalence was found in August, followed by October and then July (p<0.001). By season, the highest CC was obtained in summer, followed by autumn and then spring (p<0.001). All samples were negative for ECC. There was a direct correlation between the product form and coliform presence (p<0.001). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the APC and CC (r=0.261). The APCs in analyzed samples ranged from below <$10^1CFU/g$ to <$10^7CFU/g$. In conclusion, the month and season had significant effects on microbial contamination levels at HACCP implemented processing plants. Interrelationships between (i) the product form and coliform, (ii) the APC and CC were revealed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.153-162
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• 2011

Objectives : This study has aimed to monitor microbial detection on pill types of herbal medicine which are circulating in markets including Oriental Medical Clinics(O.M.C.s) and Pharmacy in Korea. Methods : 10 different samples of O.M.Cs and 10 different samples of Pharmacy were investigated by culture method and non-culture method based on the 9th edition of microbial examination released by Korea Food & Drug Administration. Results : The total microbial count among each 10 samples were detected within the limit suggested by WHO. 2 samples of O.M.C.s and 1 samples of Pharmacy exceeded WHO's limit in fungi count. No samples exceeded WHO's limit in bacteria count. Most bacteria founded in samples were the phylum of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria which are common in soil by non-culture method. Conclusion : Further study should be followed to set up proper microbial limit of herbal materials including pill types.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.828-833
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• 2000

The effect of treatments with alcohol, chitosan, or with both alcohol and chitosan for extending the shelf-life of Korean white rice cake and wet noodle was investigated by measuring quality changes such as total microbial count, pH, and sensory qualities. Total microbial counts for control, alcohol-treated, and 1% lactic acid-treated white rice cakes exceeded the initial putrefactive criterion level of $1{\times}10^{6}\;CFU/g$ at 6, 27 and 20 days of storage, respectively. However, total microbial count of the white rice cake treated with chitosan was still less than the criterion level even at 76 days of storage. In the case of wet noodle, total microbial counts of control and alcohol-treated groups exceeded the criterion level within 7 days of storage, while that of chitosan-treated group was far less than the criterion level even at the end of storage of 82 days. Chitosan treatment extended the shelf-lives of both white rice cake and wet noodle appreciably.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.376-386
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial hazards posed by food utensils and fixtures in food service operations at selected middle and high schools located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected 200 samples of utensils and fixtures including cups, spoons/chopsticks, food trays and tables from five different schools in Seoul. Target microorganisms of this study were divided into two groups: total bacterial count and total coliform as indicators of microbial contamination and Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus as pathogens of food poisoning. We used selective media to quantify microbial concentration and 16S rRNA PCR assay for qualitative analysis. In addition, intensive interviews with nutritionists were conducted and observations were made to identify factors that may affect microbial contamination. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the microbial concentration and operation characteristics of each operation. Results: The level of microbial concentration in school B and C were significantly lower than in school A, D and E (p<0.05). Some samples from school A, D and E showed over 3.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total bacterial count) and 1.0 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ (total coliform), which requires immediate hygienic action. The number of customers per staff member, periodicity of hygiene education for staff and daily operation time of sterilizers were also found to be important factors related with the microbial contamination of food service operations. Conclusions: These results suggested that not only a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) approach, but also efforts to assess internal risk factors within operations be needed to reduce the microbial contamination of food utensils and fixtures. This study is expected to provide preliminary data for assessing microbial hazards in food service operations.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.6 s.84
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• pp.589-597
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various kinds of electrolyzed and chlorinated waters on the sensory and microbiological qualities of fresh-cut lettuce and to determine the most suitable electrolyzed water for the vegetable dishes, without heat treatment, at institutional foodservices. The sensory evaluation resulted in higher scores on the 1st-day of storage for the EW-1 (diaphragm type 1) and EW-3 (non-diaphragm type) compared to that for EW-2 (diaphragm type 2), with regard to their appearance, discoloration, texture, taste and overall acceptability characteristics. However, over time, EW-3 ranked highest, with a score of 8.00 (very like), on the 4th-day of storage, which maintained the highest level up to the 7th-day of storage, at which time the score was 7.00 (fairly like). The CW (chlorinated Water) had a significantly lower score, due to the smell of chlorine, although there was no concern with relation to chlorine residue from the electrolyzed waters. Microbial examinations of the total plate count revealed that immersing lettuce into EW-3 brought about l/3,000 to 1/30,000 reductions in the microbial counts of the TW treatment or untreated samples for up to seven days of storage. The CW treatment gave a 1/10 reduction in the microbial counts compared with the TW (tap water) treatment. The coliform bacterial counts also showed similar trends to those of the total plate count values. With regards to the psychotropic bacterial count, EW-3 was able to result in as much as a 1/30,000 reduction in the initial counts. As vegetable dishes, such as salad, can not be heat-sterilized, the utilization of EW-3 for the preparation of vegetable dishes without heat treatment will be an excellent choice to improve the critical control point in production state as a new effective means for sanitizing management.