• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.454-465
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• 1998

This study was to investigate the recognition level of food contamination with residual pesticides and hazardous heavy metals from 365 male and female adults in Taejon area using questionnaires. Among the recognizing level of residual pesticides in overall foods, 69.1% were 'serious', 25.6% were 'average' and 5.3% were 'not serious'. Over 94.7% of the subjects recognized residual pesticides pollution infoods. for hazardous heavy metals in food, 47.8% responsed as 'serious', 40.5% as 'average' and 11.8 as ' not serious' . Over 88.3% of the subjects recognized contaminated pesticides seriously in fruits, 72.1% in vegetables and 51.7% in cereals, whereas 55.7% of the subjects recognized hazardous heavy metal contamination seriously in fruits, 53.4% in vegetables, 40.8% in fishes and shellfishes and 35.0% in seaweeds. The subjects recognized residual pesticides contamination more seriously in overall foods, cereal, potatoes and starches, bean, vegetables and fruits, whereas hazardous heavy metal contamination was recognized more seriously in fishes and shellfishes, and seaweeds food groups. Comparisons were shown based on individuial's occupation. Farmer, forester, iner and fisher showed the lowest recognizing level of food contamination in most food groups. The mean score of the dietary effect by mass media's information on food contamination from residual pesticides and hazardous heavy metals were 3.51±0.96 out of 5 points. By Duncan's multiple range test, sex, age, marriage, food cost per month, concerns about health and nutrition knowledge showed significant differences in the mean effect score at p<0.05. According to a pesticides contamination in several food groups were affected by food cost per month, mass media's information on food contamination, health status, and concerns about health, But a recognition level of hazardous heavy metals in food were affected by income and, food cost per month mass media's information on food contamination, health status, concern about health and nutrition knowledge. People who need to take extreme precautions of food contamination were in order of producers, government officials, homemakers, the consumer's association and consumers.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2011

Objective: This study aimed to examine the level of risk perception related to pesticide contamination of food products and associated sociodemographic factors, as well as investigate the association with environmental pollution preventive behaviors. Methods: Based on data from Social Survey conducted in 2008 among a nationally representative sample of the population 15 years or older, we estimated proportions and 95% confidence intervals of the risk perception of pesticide contamination of food products. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the effects of sociodemographic status on risk perception. Results: Among respondents, those who feel anxious about the risks of pesticide contamination of domestic food products accounted for 40.4%, whereas the proportion rose to 87.0% with imported food products. These numbers showed that levels of anxiety about the pesticide contamination of imported food products were ranked at the top, and those for domestic products were at the bottom of the list of all environmental pollutants examined in the survey. Significantly related factors to anxiety about pesticide contamination of food products included women, the 40-50 age group, university graduates, married, non-manual employment, having school-aged children, and owning one's own home. The population attempting to prevent environmental pollution showed higher levels of anxiety about pesticide contamination of food products than did those who were not taking such steps. Conclusion: Compared to other forms of environmental pollution, Koreans show the highest levels of anxiety about pesticide contamination of imported food products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish appropriate regulations and transparent risk communication with the public about the safety of imported food.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.180-191
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to identity the probability of cross-contamination from the environment. For this, we examined foodservices at 20 universities/colleges for microbiological analysis of their working facilities and environment as well as their preventive equipment against cross-contamination. Seventy percent of the 20 foodservices were found to maintain one unified working area, which suggests high probability of contamination of food/utensils/equipment in the cooking area by pre-preparation or dish washing. According to the microbiological analysis, the hygiene acceptance ratio of working facilities in the clean zone was 70%, which was higher than the average 45% hygiene acceptance ratio of working facilities in the contamination operating zone. There was a significant difference in the total plate count (P<0.001) and coliform count (P<0.01), which demonstrates that work tables in the clean zone were in a good state compared to those in the contamination operating zone. In the contamination operating zone, refrigerator shelves had a high probability of cross-contamination. Regarding the floor surface and airborne microbes, cooking areas which should be maintained as clean zones had higher cross-contamination probability than those in the contamination operating zone. So corrective actions such as cleaning and sanitizing, keeping dry floors, lowered temperature and humidity, shoe disinfecting facilities, and checking concentrations, are necessary to manage floor surfaces and airborne microbes in the cooking area.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to determine microbiological contamination of fresh-red pepper and packaged-red pepper powder commercially available in South Korea. Thirty-seven fresh-red peppers were collected from 5 farms and 31 packaged-red pepper powders were purchased from retail markets in South Korea. Foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus), total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, yeast and mold, and Aspergillus flavus were determined. Detection percentage of contamination of Bacillus cereus in fresh-red pepper was 8.1%, which was lower than the 39% of detection rate in packaged-red pepper powder. The contamination level of Bacillus cereus was 1～3 log CFU/g in packaged-red pepper powder. Escherichia coli was detected in 5.4% of fresh-red pepper samples and was not detected in packaged-red pepper powder. Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms were detected in both of fresh-red pepper and packaged-red pepper powders. Foodborne pathogens, except Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli, were not detected.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 1999

This study used questionnaires to investigate the safety awareness for imported foods by 365 male and female adults in Taejon. The results of the study were as follow : By factor analysis, the subjects' behaviors and awareness of the imported food was grouped into 3 factors such as 'health and quality factor', 'purchasing factor' and 'contamination factor'. 'Health and quality factor' and 'purchasing factor' were not recognized negatively by the subjects, moreover' contamination factor' was recognized very highly. The subjects' concern and worry about the imported food was also very high. The marital status, education level, nutriton knowledge adn recognition level of contamination by pesticides and heavy metals of foods partially affected the recognitio level of imported foods. The major selection criteria of imported food were distribution period(36.3%), price(28.8%) and purchasing experience(17.3%). The imported food mean discrimination score was 8.4±3.1 out of 13. The worst discriminatio score was red pepper. The subjects' experiences with imported foods selection affected the most instead of education level or nutrition knowledge. The higher discrimination score group more negatively recognized imported food and contamination recognition level was higher whereas the lowerdiscrimination score group more positively recognized the purchasing frequency and with to buy more easily. But both groups desired to reinforce contamination control. The better discrimination score of imported food pooring recognized sanitation concerns(p<0.05), quality(p<0.05), cooking convenience(p<0.01), desire for more variety(p<0.05), and the higher contamination recognition level(p<0.05) and desire to reinforce contamination control(p<0.01).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.702-709
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiological contamination of knives and cutting boards in child-care centers. Materials used in this study were swabbed of cutting boards and knives (blade, handle of knife, and joint of handle and blade) in 129 child-care centers. Mean values of total aerobic bacteria of swabs of knives and cutting boards were 1.7±0.7 log cfu/100 ㎠ and 1.7±0.9 log cfu/100 ㎠, respectively. Contamination levels of coliform bacteria from knives and cutting boards were 1.5±0.6 log cfu/100 ㎠ and 1.7±0.8 log cfu/100 ㎠, respectively. Comparing microbiological contamination levels of knives and cutting boards according to type and size of child-care centers, there was no significant difference. Bacillus cereus was detected in knife handles and cutting boards. Diarrhea-type toxin gene (entFM) was detected in B. cereus isolates. Antibiotic resistance tests showed that B. cereus was resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. To reduce microbiological contamination levels of knives and cutting boards in child-care centers and prevent food poisoning from bacteria contamination, continuous education by children's food-service management center is needed for sterilization and disinfection of knives and cutting boards.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2016

Contamination by foodborne pathogens and mycotoxins was examined in 475 eggs and 20 feed samples collected from three egg layer farms, three egg-processing units, and five retail markets in Korea. Microbial contamination with Salmonella species, Escherichia coli, and Arcobacter species was examined by bacterial culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The contamination levels of aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and zearalenone in eggs and chicken feeds were simultaneously analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection after the post-derivatization. While E. coli was isolated from 9.1% of eggs, Salmonella species were not isolated. Arcobacter species were detected in 0.8% of eggs collected from egg layers by PCR only. While aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and zearalenone were found in 100%, 100%, and 85% of chicken feeds, their contamination levels were below the maximum acceptable levels (1.86, 2.24, and 147.53 μg/kg, respectively). However, no eggs were contaminated with aflatoxins, ochratoxins, or zearalenone. Therefore, the risk of contamination by mycotoxins and microbes in eggs and chicken feeds is considered negligible and unlikely to pose a threat to human health.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2011

This research proposed the space planing methode and diagrams of restaurant kitchens to improve hygiene by analyzing the related contents collected from books and researches in interior design and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point). HACCP is an effective and scientific hygiene system for food safety in order to prevent cross-contamination from food hazards. Based on the analyses, improvement of food production environments like restaurant kitchens is necessary for food hygiene. The space planing methode of restaurant kitchens to improve hygiene are followings: The circulation planing is that the direction of movement of the food, workers, waste, and dishes should be fractionated and managed for cross-contamination prevention. The space separation planing is that the spaces in the kitchen should be classified and divided into contaminated area and non-contaminated and clean area depending on the degree of cleanliness. The zoning is space arrangement with feed-back process to check the possible points of cross-contamination and correct space arrangement until the possibility of cross-contamination disappear in kitchen. However, if cross-contamination is unavoidable in some points in restaurant kitchens, hygiene facilities such as washing rooms, pass rooms, and double doors with air-shower should be located in order to remove contamination.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1709-1715
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• 2021

Outbreaks of food poisoning due to the consumption of norovirus-contaminated shellfish continue to occur. Male-specific (F+) coliphage has been suggested as an indicator of viral species due to the association with animal and human wastes. Here, we compared two methods, the double agar overlay and the quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR)-based method, for evaluating the applicability of F+ coliphage-based detection technique in microbial contamination tracking of shellfish samples. The RT-PCR-based method showed 1.6-39 times higher coliphage PFU values from spiked shellfish samples, in relation to the double agar overlay method. These differences indicated that the RT-PCR-based technique can detect both intact viruses and non-particle-protected viral DNA/RNA, suggesting that the RT-PCR based method could be a more efficient tool for tracking microbial contamination in shellfish. However, the virome information on F+ coliphage-contaminated oyster samples revealed that the high specificity of the RT-PCR- based method has a limitation in microbial contamination tracking due to the genomic diversity of F+ coliphages. Further research on the development of appropriate primer sets for microbial contamination tracking is therefore necessary. This study provides preliminary insight that should be examined in the search for suitable microbial contamination tracking methods to control the sanitation of shellfish and related seawater.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1011-1027
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• 2024

Animal-derived foods, such as meat and dairy products, are prone to spoilage by psychrotrophic bacteria due to their high-water activity and nutritional value. These bacteria can grow at refrigerated temperatures, posing significant concerns for food safety and quality. Psychrotrophic bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Listeria, and Yersinia, not only spoil food but can also produce heat-resistant enzymes and toxins, posing health risks. This review examines the characteristics and species composition of psychrotrophic bacteria in animal-derived foods, their impact on food spoilage and safety, and contamination patterns in various products. It explores several nonthermal techniques to combat bacterial contamination as alternatives to conventional thermal methods, which can affect food quality. This review highlights the importance of developing nonthermal technologies to control psychrotrophic bacteria that threaten the cold storage of animal-derived foods. By adopting these technologies, the food industry can better ensure the safety and quality of animal-derived foods for consumers.