• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.221-226
• /
• 2015

With the diversification and internationalization of the food industry and the increased focus on health from a majority of consumers, food safety policies are being implemented based on scientific evidence. Risk analysis represents the most useful scientific approach for making food safety decisions. Total diet study (TDS) is often used as a risk assessment tool to evaluate exposure to hazardous elements. Many countries perform TDSs to screen for chemicals in foods and analyze exposure trends to hazardous elements. TDSs differ from traditional food monitoring in two major aspects: chemicals are analyzed in food in the form in which it will be consumed and it is cost-effective in analyzing composite samples after processing multiple ingredients together. In Korea, TDSs have been conducted to estimate dietary intakes of heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, persistent organic pollutants, and processing contaminants. TDSs need to be carried out periodically to ensure food safety.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.07a
• /
• pp.279-279
• /
• 2011

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2018

We investigated the levels of microbial contaminants and microbial hazards during dried-laver processing. We analyzed 321 samples obtained from 18 dried-laver Pyropia spp. manufacturing facilities, including water, swab-, and processing samples as well as final products. The levels of microbial contaminants, including viable cell counts (VCC) and coliform bacteria, increased as processing progressed. The sanitary indicator bacterium, Escherichia coli, was not detected in the final products although VCC levels were high, generally exceeding 5 log CFU/g. We also investigated changes in microbial contaminants at each processing step. Both VCC and total coliform dramatically increased after 4 days of continuous processing, indicating that microbial contaminants originated, mainly, from cross contamination during processing.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.247-250
• /
• 2012

Raw milk samples (n=28) obtained from milk tanks in 3 dairy plants of different regions and commercial milks (n=100) were collected from six cities. These samples were analyzed for the level of aflatoxin $M_1$ contamination using immunoaffinity columns and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescent detectors. Confirmation of aflatoxin $M_1$ ($AFM_1$) identified in positive samples was based on the formation of the hemiacetal derivative ($AFM_{2a}$) after derivatization with trifluroacetic acid. The average concentrations of aflatoxin $M_1$ in the raw milks were 25.1 ng/kg, and those values in commercial milks were 29.8 ng/kg. The highest level of aflatoxin $M_1$ in milk was 72.7 ng/kg. These results showed that the contamination of aflatoxin $M_1$ in milks consumed in the Korea was quite low compared to the standard in Korea Food Code (aflatoxin $M_1$ 500 ng/kg).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2013

Food contaminants are an emerging issue because food is highly influential to human health. Delphi survey was performed to establish the plan for effective management of food contaminants. Fifty experts from academia, research institute, government and food industries on food safety and policy participated in this study. From open-end questions 161 topics were collected and classified into five areas and 42 topics as the first round. The five areas were 'the integrated management system on food contaminants', 'safety management of food contaminants derived from environment', 'safety management of natural toxins contaminated on foods', 'safety management of hazardous substances produced during food processing' and 'construction of cooperative system and public relationship'. At the second round, after analyzing the replies (30/50 replied) the preliminary order was obtained and it was confirmed at the third round (24/30 replied). We suggest the order of priority for required research area of food contaminants considering the importance and urgency of the research.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.1505-1516
• /
• 2016

The detection of food pathogens is an important aspect of food safety. A range of detection systems and new analytical materials have been developed to achieve fast, sensitive, and accurate monitoring of target pathogens. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of selected nanomaterials and their applications in food, and place focus on the monitoring of biological and chemical contaminants in food. The unique optical and electrical properties of nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles, nanorods, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, graphenes, nanopores, and polydiacetylene nanovesicles, are closely associated with their dimensions, which are comparable in scale to those of targeted biomolecules. Furthermore, their optical and electrical properties are highly dependent on local environments, which make them promising materials for sensor development. The specificity and selectivity of analytical nanomaterials for target contaminants can be achieved by combining them with various biological entities, such as antibodies, oligonucleotides, aptamers, membrane proteins, and biological ligands. Examples of nanomaterial-based analytical systems are presented together with their limitations and associated developmental issues.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.307-313
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Chemicals derived from various environment media contaminates food across the food supply chain. In Korea, levels of contaminants in food have been sporadically measured by monitoring programs of different government agencies. There is difficulty with data compilation and integrated analysis across media. Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose an overall integrated database and analytical platform design for the 'ECO-FOOD NET (Environmental COntaminant reduction platform for FOOD through an interagency collaboration NETwork)', a tool to support the reduction of environmental contaminants in food. Methods: We developed a new data structure and standardized protocols for the compilation of integrated data. In addition, we conducted subject-oriented logical and physical relational database modeling and created the architecture design of the platform. Results: We established a standardized code system related to exposure media and route, analysis method and food matrix. In addition, we designed the seven software modules of 'About the System', 'Introduction to Interagency Work', 'Media-Chemicals Profiles', 'Method Bank', 'Monitoring Data Base', 'Integrated Media Analysis', and 'Risk-Benefit Analysis'. Conclusions: This study will contribute to decision-making as a tool for executing risk management, such as sustainable reduction policies of contaminants in food.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1843-1856
• /
• 2018

Tea is one of the most frequently consumed drinks due to its favourite taste and the health benefit. Tea is produced by several processes and drying is very important step to develop the flavour and destroys the enzymes in tea. However, during drying tea, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons some of which are carcinogen and genotoxin are naturally produced. The risk of PAHs by drinking tea was characterized by determining contents of 4 PAHs in tea. 4 PAHs including Benz(a)anthracene (BaA), Chrysene (CHR), Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) and Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were investigated by GC-MS in total 468 tea products, which were contaminated up to $4.63ng\;g^{-1}$. Mate tea was the most highly contaminated by BaA, CHR, BbF and BaP and followed by Solomon's seal and Chrysanthemum. The Margin of Exposures calculated by the concentration of BaA, CHR, BbF and BaP and consumption amount of tea were higher than 10,000, and the risk of PAHs in tea were low concern to public health.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.333-338
• /
• 2005

Many of thyroid hormones disrupting chemicals induce effects via interaction with thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors and responsive elements intrinsic in target cells. We studied thyroid hormones disrupting effects of food additives and contaminants including BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, CPM, aflatoxin B1, cadmium chloride, genistein, TCDD, PCBs and TDBE in recombinant HeLa cells containing plasmid construct for thyroxin responsive elements. The limit of response of the recombinant cells to T3 and T4 was $1\times10^{-12}\;M$. BHA. genistein, cadmium and TBDE were interacted with thyroid receptors with dose-responsive pattern. In addition, BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and TBDE showed synergism while cadmium chloride antagonism for T3-induced activity. This study elucidates that recombinant HeLa cell is sensitive and high-throughput system for the detection of chemicals that induce thyroid hormonal disruption via thyroid hormone receptors and responsive elements. Also this study raised suspect of BHA. BHT, ethoxyquin, propionic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, TBDE, genisteine and cadmium chloride as thyroid hormonal system disruptors.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.541-548
• /
• 2010

In this study, contamination levels of 7 N-nitrosamine were investigated in processed meat products (n=51), processed fish products (n=62), salted fish pickles (n=20), and beer and malt beverages (n=21) using a GC/PCI-MS/MS method. The limits of detection (LOD) of the N-nitrosamines ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 ${\mu}g$/kg. In addition, methods were used to estimate the recovery of 7 N-nitrosamines, which ranged from 84 to 112%. N-nitrosamines were detected in 89 (58%) out of 154 samples. The exposure of an entire population group to N-nitrosamines through food intake was estimated using the average body weight of the total population and average daily food consumption, to perform risk assessment based on reports of a national health and nutrition survey. The results indicated that the daily intake of N-nitrosamines over a life time was $4.92{\times}10^{-7}$ mg/kg b.w./day. The margin of exposure (MOE) for the general population, estimated using the benchmark dose lower confidence limit 10 ($BMDL_{10}$) of N-nitrosodimethylamine, was 208,939, which was found to be safe.