• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.640-650
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• 2013

Soy sauce, a basic ingredient in Asian cuisine, is made of fermented soybeans, salt, water, and barley or wheat flour. The sensory characteristics of soy sauce are not only determined through its main ingredients but also by various flavor compounds produced during the fermentation process. This study was conducted to identify the sensory attributes of five different commercial soy sauce samples that differ in Meju types (traditional Meju or modified Meju) and usage types. Thirty three sensory attributes, including appearance (1), odor (16), flavor (14), and mouthfeel (2) attributes, were generated and evaluated by eight trained panelists. The collected data were analyzed by analysis of variance and principal component analysis. There were significant differences in the intensities of all sensory attributes among the soy sauce samples. Soy sauce made with traditional Meju had high intensity of fermented fish, beany, musty odors and salt, Cheonggukjang, fermented fish flavors. Whereas two soy sauces made with modified Meju were strong in alcohol, sweet, Doenjang, roasted soybean flavors. Two soy sauces for soup made with modified Meju had medium levels of briny, sulfury, fermented odors and bitter, chemical flavors and biting mouthfeel characteristic.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2003

This study is proceeded on the development of standard method for making soybean paste by Korean traditional method. Fermentation condition of Meju was 1) Pre-fermentation : 30 days in about 20$^{\circ}C$ room, 2) Main fermentation : 5 days in 30$^{\circ}C$ or upper temperature, 3) Post fermentation and drying : 30 days in well sunlightened room in January. Meju was soaked in 18% salt solution(Meju 7kg/salt solution 20L) for 35～40 days (from late February to early April) and after soaking Meju was filtered as unsoluble solute and crushed and put into traditional Korean receptacle(named 'Dok'). Crushed Meju was stored from early April to mid September and Meju was changed into soybean paste(Doen-jang). During fermentation amino acid nitrogen in Doen-jang was slightly increased in early period and decreased lately. It has been proved that by panel test soybean paste made by the method suggested in this study was more excellent than commercially fermented soybean paste. This study has presented the possibility of commercial production of soybean paste made by traditional method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.390-396
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• 1997

Meju is a basis for manufacturing Kanjang, Meju was traditionally prepared at home by different types of process depending on the regional area. It is necessary to standardize and simplify the process of Meju-preparation for Kanjang of good quality. For these purposes, the process of Meju and Kangjang making as well as analysis of commercial Kanjang, were compared. Generally, traditional Meju was prepared by steeping and dehulling the whole soybean. After steeping for 24hr. soybean absorbed water up to 110~120% of its weight. The soaked soybeans were steamed for 2hr. and cooled to 5$0^{\circ}C$. Cooked soybeans were crushed down to the size of 10~15 mesh and molded. Molded soybeans were dried for 2 days in the air, hung up by rice straw and fermented for 20~30 days under natural environmental condition. On the other hand, commercial soybean koji was made of defatted soybean. Defatted soybeans were steeped in water and steamed for 15~30min at 0.7~1.2 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Steamed and defatted soybean was cooled to 4$0^{\circ}C$. Separately, wheat power was roasted at 200~30$0^{\circ}C$ by wheat roaster. Mixture of steamed defatted soybean and roasted wheat powder (5/5 to 7/3) were inoculated with 0.1~0.2% Aspergillus sojae and incubated for 2 days at 3$0^{\circ}C$ with occasional stirring. Chemical analysis showed that traditional soy sauces contained the following composition: NaCl, 20.12~25.42%; total nitrogen, 0.64~0.91%; pure extract, 9.47~11.20%; color, 2.34~4.01; pH, 4.92~5.12. Commercial products contained: NaCl, 15.20~17.19%; total nitrogen, 1.25~1.40%; pure extract, 18.17~21.47%; color, 5.41~21.12; pH, 4.51~4.66 and ethalnol. 2.97~3.12%. Organoleptic test on taste, color and flavor of traditional and commercial soysauce indicated that most of the consumers prefer commercial products to traditional products. Preferrable formulation of Kanjang based on organoleptic test of soy sauces was assumed as containing; NaCl, 16.0%; total nitrogen, 1.40%; pure extract, 19.97%; color, 12.98; pH, 4.61 and ethanol, 2.96.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.291-295
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• 2014

Mycoflora was assessed in the commercial meju from four well-separated geographic origins. A total of 112 fungal isolates were identified by phenotypic characteristics and molecular taxonomy using sequencing the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA and revealed 19 species from 13 genera. Enzymatic characteristics of protease and amylase, and mycotoxin production were analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1010-1016
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• 1999

Protease related mold was isolated and selected as a starter culture for commercial production of meju. Isolated microorganism was identified as Syncephalastrum racemosum PDA 132 2. To obtain basic data about protease for production of soybean peptides and application of the strain in meju fermentation, we extrated and purified protease and charateristics of the enzyme were investigated. The optimum condition for the production of enzyme was pH 4.0, 30oC, 5 days. The protease was purified 19.7 folds by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and specific activity was 12.4unit/mg. The purified enzyme was 34kDa in size, thiol protease(100% inhibited by PCMB), and was acidic protease(stable between pH 2.0~5.0). Vmax of the enzyme was 2.14 g/min which was lower(1/50) than that of by Asp. wentti and B. subtilis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.268-274
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• 1998

The traditional kanjang has been prepared by mixing meju and 18% saline solution, and fermenting for 60 days. The traditional kanjang is very salty and inferior in flavor and taste comparing with commercial fermented soy sauce. To improve the quality of traditional kanjang, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii H-62, a flavor-related mutant, was inoculated during fermentation. It was found that the addition of Z rouxii helped to improve the organoleptic quaity of traditional kanjang. The optimal condition for preparing traditional kanjang was to use 5L of 15.5% saline solution per meju. Meju must be cut into 12 pieces to get a proper total nitrogen and pure extract content. The optimal fermentatin temperature was 3$0^{\circ}C$. The prepared kanjang contained over 0.8% total nitrogen and 6.0% pure extract after 60 days of fermentation.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.408-419
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• 2022

Filamentous fungi that could be classified into Aspergillus flavus/oryzae were isolated from traditionally fermented meju commercially available in Korea. The samples were analyzed for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A contamination by HPLC; however, no toxin was detected. In addition, fungal and bacterial metagenomic sequencing were performed to analyze the microbial distribution in the samples. The results revealed that the distribution and abundance of fungi and bacteria differed considerably depending on the production regions and fermentation conditions of the meju samples. Through morphological analysis, ITS region sequencing, and assessment of the aflatoxin-producing ability, a total of 32 A. flavus/oryzae strains were identified. PCR analysis of six regions with a high mutation frequency in the aflatoxin gene cluster (AGC) revealed a total of six types of AGC breaking point patterns. The A. flavus/oryzae strains did not exhibit the high amylase activity detected in the commercial yellow koji strain (starter mold). However, their peptidase and lipase activities were generally higher than that of the koji isolates. We verified the safety of the traditionally fermented meju samples by analyzing the AGC breaking point pattern and the enzyme activities of A. flavus/oryzae strains isolated from the samples. The isolated strains could possibly be used as starter molds for soybean fermentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.513-518
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• 2003

Three kind of apple kochujangs were prepared using different commercial meju (normal commercial product, two commercial product from Aspergilius sp. and Bacillus sp.) and investigated about characteristics. The contents of total free sugar were the highest, 22.43% in apple kochujang (II) after 10 week fermentation. The glucose was specially high ratio in apple kochujang (III). The contents of total amino acid were 107.53~401.52 mg% in apple kochujang (I), 108.69~441.19 mg% in apple kochujang (II) and 106.82~423.28 mg% in apple kochujang (III). From the sensory evaluation after 12 weeks, the scores for flavor preference and total acceptability were the highest in apple kochujang (III). There was no significant difference for taste and color in apple kochujangs.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.378-383
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• 2007

To study the characteristics and processing of Kochujang which is rapidly fermented by commercial enzymes, three kinds of Kochujang(KP-FA, KP-FN, and KP-BN) using commercial proteases and one Kochujang(KM) using Meju were prepared and their qualities investigated. There were only small differences in pH and acidity between each Kochujang. The moisture contents were high tendency in the three kinds of Kochujangs using the commercial proteases at 20 days of fermentation. Reducing sugars had a tendency to decrease during the fermentation in the Kochujangs using the proteases. During the first half of fermentation, the Kochujangs made with proteases showed higher amino nitrogen contents than the Kochujang(KM) made using Meju. Acidic protease activity was high in KP-FA at 20 days of fermentation and neutral protease activity was high in KP-FN and KP-BN at the beginning of fermentation. The Kochujangs made using the proteases, through 20 days of fermentation, obtained high preference in the sensory evaluation for color, texture, and overall acceptability. However, the hot taste was stronger in these Kochujangs during the fermentation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2001

Generally, non-aflatoxigenic fungi, such as Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus are main microflora in Korean traditional fermented foods including Meju and soybean paste, but sometimes, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus can be contaminated and accumulated aflatoxins during fermentation and storage. So the screening of aflatoxigenic strains in fermented traditional food is very important to improve the sanitary quality of those foods. In this work, we screened aflatoxin producing fungi from commercial Meju and soybean paste in Western Gyeongnam by immunoassay. Samples were randomly purchased from market of the commercial Meju(10 EA) and soybean paste(20 EA) in nine areas of Western Gyeongnam. Of the samples collected,24 strains and 22 strains of Aspergillus sp. were isolated from Meju and soybean paste, respectively. The isolated strains were cultured on SLS media at $25^{\circ}C$ for 15 days. The cultured broth were extracted with ethyl acetate and were analysed to determine aflatoxin B$_1$(AFB$_1$) by direct competitive ELISA(DC-ELISA). Six strains(25%) isolated from Meju, and 2 strains(9%) isolated from saybean paste, were confined as aflatoxin producing strains. The average range of aflatoxin productivity of isolates from Meju was 54.6 $\pm$ 38.7 ng/ml and that from soybean paste was 11.1 $\pm$ 8.6 ng/ml, respectively. Among them, isolated strain No. M-5-4 produced a high level of AFBl and showed 98.26 ng/ml of AFB$_1$. Every isolates were also re-confined their AFB$_1$productivity by thin layer chromatography(TLC). The TLC results also showed same trend as DC-ELISA results. As the above results, the screening of hazard mycotoxigenic fungi from traditional fermented foods should be necessary for the safety and the application of HACCP system in the food manufactory in Korea.