• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2007

Little information exists on how wash operations affect water quality, or the efficacy of sanitizers on vegetable quality and microbial reduction in fresh-cut carrot shreds. This study evaluated the efficacy of chlorine and ozone in reducing microbial loads and maintaining vegetable quality of carrot shreds. Fresh-cut carrot shreds were teated with various chlorine and ozone concentrations for differing times. The samples were then centrifuged to remove excess water, packaged in film, and stored at $5^{\circ}C$. The result indicated that varying the ozonated water wash time affected microbial growth the development of unpleasant odors, color, and the overall quality of carrot shreds. Ozonated water washing for 20 min maintained vegetable quality by inhibiting unpleasant odors, the development of whiteness, and by reducing microbial populations. A single chlorine water wash was effective and resulted in better vegetable quality when compared with two washes. Samples washed for 20 min in ozonated water, however, had better vegetable quality and smaller microbial counts compared to samples washed once in chlorine water A 20 min ozonated water wash is an attractive method for the maintenance of vegetable quality and shelf-life in fresh-cut carrot shreds.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.636-643
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• 2009

Inactivation by UV-C irradiation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated onto washed carrots was examined. Carrot samples were inoculated with 6-7 log CFU/mL of E. coli O157:H7 or L. monocytogenes, treated with doses of 0, 1, 3, 5, or $10\;kJ/m^2$ UV-C, and stored at $4{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 8 d. The populations of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes significantly decreased with increasing irradiation dose (p<0.05). In particular, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes populations fell significantly by 2.35 and 2.38 log CFU/g at $10\;kJ/m^2$, respectively, compared to control values. UV-C irradiation inhibited color changes and decreased the whiteness index in carrot during storage, compared to controls. Sensory evaluation results showed that UV-C-treated carrots had better sensory characteristics than did the control. Therefore, the results suggest that UV-C irradiation could be useful to improve the microbial safety and sensory qualities of fresh-cut carrots during storage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1881-1888
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• 2014

Pre-thermal treatment is important to minimize quality changes during main cooking or storage. In this study, to optimize pre-thermal treatment of carrots, three types of pre-thermal treatments were applied to carrots and quality changes such as physicochemical, nutritional, or sensory properties were observed. Washed and sliced carrots were thermally treated by hot-water immersion ($100^{\circ}C$, 1~10 min), steaming ($100^{\circ}C$, 1~10 min), and stir-frying with oil (10~80 sec). Carrot tissue was maintained until 2 min hot-water immersion or steaming, and they were damaged by just 30 sec of stir-frying. Color and hardness were significantly affected by treatment time and temperature. Color was completely changed after 5 min and 7 min by hot-water and steam treatments, respectively. Hardness decreased to 44% compared with fresh carrot (4,500 g) after 1 min, 3 min, and 20 sec of hot-water, steam, and stir-frying, respectively. For nutritional changes, ascorbic acid, organic acid, and peroxide activity were reduced by all treatments compared with fresh carrot. Especially, succinic acid was dramatically reduced by hot-water treatment. Otherwise, free sugar contents were increased with greater treatment time in all samples. In this study, pre-thermal treatment of carrot was optimal at 2 min steaming treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.594-598
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and frequency of food-borne pathogens in unprocessed Products such as grains, tubers, vegetables, and seaweeds. Three hundred and twenty seven samples were purchased from the retail market and the supermarket in the Kyonggi-do and Seoul areas, and washed with running tap water for 4 minutes. The total aerobic bacteria count was approximately 2 to 6 log CFU/g and the highest counts were 6 log CFU/g far lettuce and sesame leaf. The coliform count showed 1-5 log CFU/g and the highest counts were 4 log CFU/g for lettuce and carrot. Escherichia coli was detected in seven samples of white rice, sweet potato, lettuce, sesame leaf, and cabbage. Clostridium perfringens was detected in six samples of brown seaweed, laver, lettuce, and sweet potato. However, Bacillus cereus contamination was found in more than 30% of brown rice, carrot, sweet potato, lettuce and sesame leaf samples, and some of these showed contamination of more than 2.0 log CFU/g. Therefore, these results suggest that pretreatment with sanitizer to remove Bacillus cereus in such products is necessary.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.330-337
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• 2008

Betarich carrots were washed at various hypochloric acid(HCA) concentration and steeping time and packed in PE bag keeping at $8^{\circ}C$ for 12 days, in order eventually to examine microbiology, firmness, surface color, whiteness index(WI) and sensory quality. It was found that total bacterial counts at T-II and T-III with the 3 minute steeping were $4.37{\pm}0.19\;\log\;CFU/g$ and $4.27{\pm}0.13\;\log\;CFU/g$ respectively, showing slight decrease compared to control condition. E. coli was not detected at all treatments but less coliforms were detected at the 8-day treatments of T-II and T-III. Treatment of 3-minute steeping showed smaller reduction in firmness than that of I-minute steeping at 12-days, and T-1 (T-3) had the largest (smallest) reduction among them. It was also found that during the treatment the L-value showed decreasing trend, but the parameter a- and b-value showed increasing trend. WI increased, and its change was small with the increase in HCA concentration. The sensory quality check after 8 day storage showed that evaluation of the off-flavor appeared to be significantly high (p<0.05) at both non-treatment and HCA treatment. On the basis of the results above, it is likely to be more effective to prolong the period of circulation of beta rich carrots if you use HCA over 50 ppm for washing betarich carrots. This study will contribute to improve safety and quality in circulation of beta rich carrots.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1343-1356
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• 2008

The evaluation of microbiological quality for school food samples collected from 19 selected middle and high schools located in Seoul was undertaken. Eighty-nine food samples consisting of 38 non-pretreated vegetables, 13 pre-washed and cut vegetables, 9 meats and poultry, 3 fish and shellfish, 7 dried fish, and shellfish and 20 processed foods were collected. Aerobic plate count, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli ) were detected using $Petrifilm^{TM}$, and the food-borne pathogens were screened by multiplex PCR with species-specific primer sets. Sequentially, the quantitative and confirmative test of the food-borne pathogens were carried out with the selective media and biochemical kits. The contamination of coliform counts was observed on the pre-washed vegetables ($3.4{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$) and meats ($2.2{\sim}4.3\;log\;CFU/g$). Also, the cooked foods were heavily contaminated with coliform, ranging from 1.0 to $5.5\;log\;CFU/g$. E. coli counts were found in 16 raw and cooked food samples, exceeding the microbiological standards for the guideline of safety management for school foods. Through PCR detection, B acillus cereus was detected in 32 raw and cooked foods, and quantitatively found in pre-washed carrot, radish, and pan-broiled dried shrimp and filefish ranging from $2.3{\sim}3.6\;log\;CFU/g$, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on frozen pork sample and was confirmed with API kit. Campylobacter jejuni was found in 3 ready-to-eat type vegetables. Vibrio parahaemolyticus were found in 4 pre-washed vegetables and 2 cooked foods, indicating unsatisfactory quality based upon the microbiological standards of ready-to-eat vegetables and cooked foods by Korea Food and Drug Administration. Salmonella spp. was detected in frozen chicken sample and confirmed by API kit and latex antisera agglutination.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.432-440
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• 2016

The consumption of pre-treated vegetables (including fresh-cut vegetables) that are washed, peeled, and trimmed has been significantly increased because of their easy use for cooking. Vegetable cutting machines have been widely utilized for producing fresh-cut vegetables or agricultural products of different sizes; however, the design standard is not established for specific types of agricultural products. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine mechanical properties (compressive and shear forces) of targeted agricultural products (radish, carrot, squash, cucumber, shiitake mushroom, and sweet potato) for developing a multipurpose vegetable cutting machine. According to ASAE standard (s368.3), compressive and shear forces of targeted agricultural products were measured by using a custom built UTM (universal testing machine). Shape type of samples and speed ranges (5 - 15 mm/min) of loading rate on bioyield and shear points varied depending on the targeted agricultural product. The range of averaged bioyield points of targeted agricultural products were between 7.89 and 146.98 N. On the other hand, their averaged shear points ranged from 22.50 to 53.47 N. Results clearly showed that the bioyield and shear points of targeted agricultural products were thoroughly affected by their components. As measuring compressive and shear forces of a variety of agricultural products, it will be feasible to calculate blade cutting force for designing multipurpose vegetable cutting machine.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 2011

We evaluated the quality characteristics of fresh-cut produce (potato, sweet potato, carrot, radish, zucchini, cucumber, and green bell pepper) washed with sodium hypochlorite, which were vacuum packaged, and stored at 4 and 10$^{\circ}C$. The L-values of the fresh-cut potato and sweet potato decreased during storage. Lower PPO activities of potato and sweet potato were observed at 4$^{\circ}C$ than those at 10$^{\circ}C$ and development of potato and sweet potato browning was delayed at 4$^{\circ}C$. Total aerobic count and coliform increased continuously at 10$^{\circ}C$ during storage. Diced zucchini and shredded sweet potato had the greatest reduction in hardness among the fresh-cut produce during storage. Differences in the rate of quality change were observed according to the kinds and cut types of produce. Thus, a quality maintenance period for each type of fresh-cut produce must be determined, which will lead to the safe use of fresh cut produce in foodservice establishments.