• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2015

The purposes of this study were to develop a small scale post-harvest facility, and consequently to evaluate the effects of applying the facility along with hygiene education on the level of microbial safety in Korean leeks production. A total of 135 samples were collected at three Korean leeks farms in Yangju, Gyeonggi province. Food safety indicators (Aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count, and Escherichia coli) and foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) on/in the samples were assessed. The microbial load measured as APC with harvesting tools such as comb, chopping board, and knife, at the farms where the small scale post-harvest facility had been operated (Farms A and B) was lower than that at another farm having no post-harvest facility (Farm C) by 1.44~2.33 log CFU / $100cm^2$. Moreover, the chopping board from Farm C was observed being contaminated with B. cereus at 6.03 log CFU / $100cm^2$. The coliform counts from the samples increased by 0.57~1.89 log CFU/g after leeks was submerged in ground water for washing. E. coli was recovered from leeks, soil, and the ground water used in the washing process, while no E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and L. monocytogenes was detected. Our results indicated that the small scale post-harvest facility developed in this study as well as the hygiene education played an important role in enhancing the level of microbial food safety in the leeks production environment. However, a disinfection technique could be needed during the washing step in order to prevent a potential contamination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.458-464
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• 2016

Mulberry is considered a healthy food for antioxidants and many other beneficial nutrients. However, food safety concerns exist as this commodity scarcely passes through a sanitizing step due to the fragile nature of mulberry fruits. Fermented mulberry wort is one traditional way to utilize and preserve mulberries by mixing with sugars although hygienic practices are not often implemented. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fate of foodborne pathogens in fermented mulberry wort. Microbial population of inoculated E. coli in mulberry wort showed a decreasing pattern as the fermentation progressed. A quicker decrease was observed in the mulberry wort mixed with sugar at 1 to 0.8 ratio (w/w, mulberry: sugar) compared to 1 to 1 ratio, which could be due to the amount of acids generated during the fermentation process. When fully-fermented mulberry wort was contaminated with foodborne pathogens, they all decreased in population although their deceasing patterns varied depending on the species of tested bacteria. Steep deceases in population of inoculated foodborne pathogens were observed when the fermented wort was stored at $30^{\circ}C$ in comparisons to the other storage temperature, 5 and $20^{\circ}C$, regardless of bacterial species. This study necessitates the optimization of a sanitizing process during fermentation and storage of mulberry wort.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.447-452
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• 2018

Water is an important component in the production of fresh produce. It is mainly used for irrigation and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Several outbreaks cases related to fresh produce have been reported and water has been identified as the most likely source. On the other hand, wildlife has been identified as a possible source of the waterborne pathogens. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wildlife access on irrigation water used in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage in Goesan. The frequency of wild animals access to upstream water source and the contamination level of bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterococci of irrigation water used in Chinese cabbage farm was examined. A total of 37 wildlife including the wild bear and water deer were observed in upstream of water source during the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. The result indicated the presence of hygienic indicator bacteria from the upstream where there is no human access. The contamination range of coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus spp. Detected in the irrigation water were 2.13~4.32 log MPN / 100 mL, 0.26~2.03 log MPN / 100 mL, and 1.43~3.49 log MPN / 100 mL, respectively. Due to low water temperatures, the contamination levels of coliform bacteria and E. coli in the irrigation water during harvesting time was lower compared to those recorded during transplanting of Chinese cabbage. However, no significant difference was detected in the number of Enterococci during the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. The results indicated the need to manage the microbial risk in irrigation water to enhance safety in cultivation of Chinese cabbage.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2018

Red pepper is widely used as a spicy flavor ingredient in the food industry and many households. The objective of this study was to assess the total aerobic bacteria count, coliforms count and incidence of Escherichiacoli, Salmonella spp., Escherichiacoli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus in red pepper and red pepper cultivated soil. The total aerobic bacteria number in red pepper and soil were in the range of 2.97 to 8.13 and 5.91 to 7.65 log CFU/g, respectively. The coliforms in red pepper and soil were in the range of 1.87 to 6.71 and 0.67 to 6.16 log CFU/g, respectively. E. coli was detected in 3 of 54 soil samples. In 3 out 63 red pepper and 53 of 54 soil samples, B. cereus was detected, while Salmonella spp., E.coli O157:H7, and L.monocytogenes were not detected. The results from this study provide an important basic information associated with the microbiological safety of fresh vegetables. Continuous caution is needed to prevent the contamination of pathogenic microorganisms during its farming.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.437-442
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• 2014

Foodborne illness due to the consumption of contaminated raw strawberries is a continuing food safety concern. This study investigated and evaluated contamination levels of bacteria on strawberries at farms stage to evaluate potential hazards associated with fresh strawberries. A total of 315 samples, 105 samples from 5 sampling sites (A to E) of 21 farms and 210 samples from 1 sampling site of 6 farms, was collected every month for four months and analyzed to enumerate aerobic bacterial counts, Coliforms/E. coli, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the prevalence study of five pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) was performed on each sample. Aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 0.48 to 6.36 Log CFU/g, with the highest bacterial cell counts recorded for D and E sites. Coliforms were detected in 71 samples (22.5%) with a minimum of 0.48 cfu/g and a maximum of more than 4 Log CFU/g. B. cereus was detected in 98 samples (31.1%) among total samples analyzed. S. aureus was detected in 2 samples with a minimum of 0.48 Log CFU/g and a maximum of 1.38 Log CFU/g. E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not isolated from any of the samples. The microbial contamination levels of strawberries determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbiological risk assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2009

Molinate (S-ethyl hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate), a selective, preemergence thiocarbamate herbicide used for grass weed control in rice fields, is being most widely used in Korea. This study was conducted to assess the comparative toxicity of molinate on two aquatic insects, Chironomus riparius and Cloeon dipterum in four larval stages. First-instar larvae of C. riparius appeared to be the most sensitive to acute exposure of molinate with a 48-h $EC_{50}$ of 7.8 mg/L, followed by third instar (48-h $EC_{50}\;=\;22.9\;mg/L$), second instar (48-h $EC_{50}\;=\;25.0\;mg/L$) and fourth instar (48-h $EC_{50}$ > 50 mg/L) larvae. Also, the sensitivity of the larvae of C. dipterum was presented as the same manner of the larvae of C. riparius. The youngest group of larvae of C. riparius appeared to be the most sensitive to molinate, with 96-h $EC_{50}$ values ranged from 14.3 to 24.1 mg/L. The authors assume that the young instar lavae of aquatic insects, Chironomus riparius and Cloeon dipterum are more sensitive to molinate. Also, the authors propose that Mayfly, Cloeon dipterum is well suited as a bioassay organism because it is one of the most vulnerable aquatic insects inhabiting agricultural ecosystem in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2010

Most pesticides are poorly soluble in water and must be dissolved in a solvent carrier before being added to the test medium on aquatic toxicity test. The concentration of solvent is critical to the success of a test. This study were conducted to recommend possible organic solvents which have good solubility for pesticides and low toxicity to Korean native water flea to establish new standard toxicity test methods using Korean native water flea for ecological risk assessment of pesticide. Four Korean freshwater cladocerans, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia sp., Moina macrocopa and Simocephalus vetulus were exposed to 10 different organic solvents during 48 hours to evaluate their toxic response to solvents. Ethyl acetate was the most toxic to cladocerans tested. Although ethyl ether was the least toxic to cladocerans tested, it may not adequate as possible solvent in aquatic toxicity test due to high volatility and low water solubility. In conclusion, acetone, methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile which has low toxicity as well as good water solubility are recommended as optimal organic solvent to use in aquatic toxicity tests with Korean native cladocerans tested.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2008

The data on pesticide poisoning death toll during 2000-2005 was obtained from Korean National Statistical Office and analysed to find out any precautionary measures against pesticide poisonings. Pesticide poisoning death toll showed slightly increasing trend with year up to about 3500 in 2005. Most of the pesticide poisoning death cases were intentional self-poisoning accounting for more than 80% of total pesticide poisoning death. The pesticide most often implicated in poisoning death were paraquat dichloride, a non-selective herbicide and organophosphate/carbamate insecticides. The regional distribution of pesticide poisoning death showed urban 21.6% and rural area 78.4%. As for the occupation of the dead, agricultural, forestry and fishery workers accounted for 27.4% and non-agricultural workers was 72.6% of pesticide poisoning death. Therefore, government need to take some precautionary measures to reduce the number of pesticide poisoning cases. It is strongly recommended that pesticide regulatory authorities encourage and train the agricultural workers to use safe storage boxes and enforce strict regulation for the prevention for the prevention of highly toxic pesticides sales to non-agricultural workers.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.187-190
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine phytotoxicity of domestic rice varieties and characteristic of sensitive gene involved in herbicide reaction of 4-HPPD (4-hydroxy phenylpyruvate dioxygenase) inhibiting herbicides. The five rice varieties were grown for 2 to 3 leaf stage on seedling trays and then transplanted into plastic pot: 4-Japonica type (Sangjubyeo, Sambaekbyeo, Sanduljinmi and Kumyoung) varieties and 1-Indica type variety (IR8). We trialled standard (14 g a.i. $10a^{-1}$) and double fold (28 g a.i. $10a^{-1}$) dose of benzobicyclon treatment at 10 days after transplanting in order to investigate phytoxicity. The Japonica-type Sangjubyeo showed no rice injury but Indica-type IR8 show 4-5 (standard) and 5-6 (double fold) phytoxicity levels. In spite of Japonica-type, Sanduljinmi and kumyoung showed 3-4 and 4-5 levels. Target resistant gene, Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor sensitive gene No.1 (HIS1) have been isolated from five domestic rice cultivars (Sangjubyeo, Sambaekbyeo, Sanduljinmi, Kumyoung and IR8). Results of the sequence through PCR, all five tested rice cultivars had HIS1 gene regardless to rice cultivars. And the difference between rice varieties from sequence of HIS1 were identified some variation in genes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.