The aim of this study was to determine exposure assessment of pathogenic bacteria in edible ices by using the monitoring data from the previous study. According to the results of exposure assessment of edible ices contaminated with S. aureus, the contamination level of S. aureus in raw materials was higher than other foodborne pathogens, and the contamination level of S. aureus in mixed samples increased much before sterilization. The most significant reduction in contamination level was observed in mixed samples after sterilization, thus, the contamination levels in frozen final products was less than that of raw materials. Overall, the possibility for the infection of foodborne bacteria from the intake of edible ices per person per day was ranged from minimum 5.89 × 10-7 to maximum 5.01 × 10-5. For more realistic estimates, consumption of edible ices and dose-response model must be studied further.

This study was conducted to determine microbiological assessment on edible ices, which is one of mandatory items for HACCP application, and to provide basic scientific data for the improvement of HACCP system. In HACCP applied edible ice companies, the contamination levels of total counts, yeast and mold, and coliform from raw materials, mixed samples before sterilization, mixed samples after sterilization, and final products of edible ices were lower than those of non-HACCP applied edible ice companies. Foodborne pathogens, such as L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., B. cereus, S. aureus, Y. enterocoliticawere not detected in all samples of edible ices from HACCP applied edible ice companies, but S. aureus was isolated from 1 raw material, 1 mixed samples before sterilization and 1 final product of edible ices from non-HACCP applied edible ice companies, respectively.