In the present study, we collected the information of the 18 major food safety incidents and conducted a delphi survey with 10 experts to analyze the effect of difference between terms used in reporting of the major food safety incidents on risk communication. In the result of the analysis of information from the major food safety incidents, discord of terms used from government, local government, media and consumer groups had a tremendous effect on the socioeconomic losses and caused the expansion of the incidents. The survey with 10 experts showed that there was a high correlation between the difference in ripple effect of reporting terms and the difference in reporting terms. A correlation coefficient was 0.865. Therefore, ripple effect of incidents was significantly affected by reporting terms and we concluded that standardization of term is necessary in reporting of the food safety incidents. These results can be used as a basic material for successful risk communication among the government, enterprises and consumers.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiological contamination of fresh-cut produce salads and raw cabbage toward climate change. Total aerobic bacteria, coliform and Escherichia coli were monitored to get the contamination levels and E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. to detect pathogens with risk of foodborne disease from samples. Collection of 360 samples (180 fresh-cut produce salads and 180 raw cabbage), including 60 samples from each area after setting 3 areas depending on annual temperature and annual rainfall. As a result, total aerobic bacteria and coliform group were different was performed areas in raw cabbage but there was no difference between areas in fresh-cut produce salads. In addition foodborne pathogens including E. coli were not isolated from fresh-cut produce salads.
This study was performed to investigate hygienic behavior of food workers on the awareness of hand-washing, and the microbial load of their hands. This study focused on the comparison of fast food restaurant workers and full-service restaurant workers. A questionnaire survey and microbiological analysis were carried out for thirty fast food restaurant workers and forty full-service restaurant workers. Samples for microbiological analysis were collected through the glove-juice method from the hands of the food workers, and were analyzed for the presence of aerobic plate counts, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Microbiological analysis was done according to the Food Code of Korea. In the survey, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the fast food restaurant workers and full-service restaurant workers in the use of hand washing tools and method of turning off water. More full-service restaurant workers responded to wash their hands after touching face, hair, or clothes; after handling raw food materials, and more fast food restaurant workers periodically (p < 0.05). Aerobic plate counts were higher in fast food restaurant workers while total coliforms were higher in fullservice restaurant workers (p < 0.05). No remarkable difference was found between the two groups in the load of fecal coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. Poor hand hygiene practices were indicated by the positive results for E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food workers in both groups. The findings of this study emphasize the need for strict adherence to hand hygiene compliance among the food workers.
This study was performed to investigate the pesticide residue of commercial medicinal plants used for food materials in the Seoul area. Multi class pesticide multiresidue methods in Korea Food Code was used to analyze 100 pesticides. Analyzed samples were 261 cases(domestic 201, imported 60), detection rate was 19.2%(domestic 20.9%, imports 13.3%). 17 pesticides were detected in fruit(chinese matrimony vine, jujube, rubus coreanus, japanese cornlian cherry, schizandra, tangerine peel), and root(cnidium, licorice, astragalus). Pesticide over Maximum Residue Limits were detected in jujube, cnidium. Frequently detected pesticides were cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, fenvalerate, bifenthrin. More than 50% of the sample were detected two or more pesticides at the same time. Because of the variety and increase of pesticide detection in medicinal roots and fruits, continued monitoring and safety management is required.
In this study, we investigated the applicability of the photostimulated luminescence(PSL), thermoluminescence( TL) and electron spin resonance(ESR) methods for various foods which are not allowed to be irradiated in Korea. All 15 foods including sesame, almond, peanut, cocoa powder etc. were analyzed. Samples were irradiated at 1~10 kGy using a 60Co gamma-ray irradiator. In PSL study, the photon counts of all the unirradiated samples showed negative(lower than 700). The photon counts irradiated(1 kGy) dried shrimp, roasted peanut and seasoned peanut showed positive(higher than 5,000) and the other samples were negative or intermediate(> 700 and < 5,000). In TL analysis, results showed that it is possible to apply TL method to all foods containing minerals. In ESR measurements, the ESR signal(single-line) intensity of irradiated foods was higher than non-irradiated foods. In particular, the specific ESR signals of irradiation-induced crystalline sugar, cellulose and bone radical were detected in dried plum, raisin, dried cherry, mango(dried, frozen), rambutan, cocoa(powder), cinnamon, parsley, carrot, broccoli, dried arrow squid, dried pollack and dried shrimp. According to the results, PSL, TL and ESR methods were successfully applied to detect the irradiated foods because TL method is not able to detect the irradiated foods rarely composed of minerals. ESR is also a difficult method to detect the changes of ESR signal patterns of food. It is concluded that TL analysis or ESR assay is suitable for detection of irradiated samples and a combined method is recommendable for enhancing the reliability of detection results.
This study was conducted to provide strategies for the reduction of plate waste and prevention of plate waste reuse in foodservice operations. To achieve these goals, we surveyed the entrepreneurs of foodservice operations, professionals in the field of foodservice management and food safety, and public officials working for food safety enforcement about their perceptions and strategies on plate waste management. The professionals’ survey indicated that definition of plate waste needed to be clear for understanding. Also Korean food culture insisting on abundance and variety table settings, foodservice owners' demands for cost reduction, and foodservice workers' insufficient safety perceptions were indicated to bring forth the practice to reuse plate waste. The effective ways to control plate waste management were systematic educational supports for Korean food culture upgrade among consumers and improvements of safety perceptions among owners, as well as workers. Also small portion size was needed to reduce plate waste.
Cosmetics using natural materials which was purchased in retail stores, distributed in Gyeonggi province(32 samples) and online through internet(24 samples) were analyzed by pesticide residues and target preservatives for assessing the safety of it. Natural or organic certifications was identified in 22 samples among 56 samples and most of them were Ecocert. Pesticide residues was detected in 3 samples among 56 samples and each compound and concentration was permethrin(0.6 mg/kg), tricyclazole(11.7 mg/kg) and malathion(0.05 mg/kg). All of it was purchased through internet. Target preservatives was detected in 13 samples among 56 samples and one of them was over the maximum allowed concentration and the rest of them were within the maximum allowed concentration of the respective preservatives. The compound which was over the maximum allowed concentration was benzoic acid and compounds which were within the maximum allowed concentration were sorbic acid, benzoic acid and methylparaben. They were all identified substances in products and the number of detected preservatives in retail stores were higher than online samples purchased through internet. As a result of this study, The method of analyzing pesticide residues and limit in cosmetics using natural materials should be set up as soon as possible and the monitoring about preservatives in cosmetics using natural materials should be conducted on continuously.
This study was performed to compared the effectiveness of individual treatments (electrolyzed water: EW, organic acid, and ultrasound) and their combination on reducing foodborne pathogens from perilla leaves. Perilla leaves were innoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus. Inoculated perilla leaves were treated with EW combined with different concentration of acetic acid (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) for 1 min at room temperature. Treatment of 3 pathogens on perilla leaves with electrolyzed water combined with ultrasound (25 kHz) and 0.5% acetic acid was also performed for 1 min. While the numbers of S. Typhimurium and B. cereus showed reduced with increasing acetic acid concentration, there is no difference in the number of S. aureus treated with EW containing 0.5% to 1.5% acetic acid. Discoloration was observed the perilla leaves treated with EW combined with more than 1.0% acetic acid. For all three pathogens, the combined treatment of EW and ultrasound resulted in additional 0.42 to 0.72 log10 CFU/g. The maxium reductions of S. Typhimurium and B. cereus were 0.95, 1.23 log10 CFU/g after treatment with EW combined with 0.5% acetic acid and ultrasound simultaneously. The results suggest that the treatment of EW combined with 0.5% acetic acid and ultrasound increased pathogens reduction compared to individual treatment.
This study intented to standardize the method for total polysaccharide, which is a functional marker for aloe vera gel in Korea. We used four lyophilized raw materials and commercial aloe gel products, certified as Health Functional Food by Korea Food and Drug Administration, including powder, solution, jelly, tablet and capsule, to optimize the analytical condition of dialysis and phenol-sulfuric acid reaction in polysaccharide analysis. The optimal conditions for polysaccharide analysis included 1 L water for dialysis and change 3 times for 24hr against 25 mL prepared sample solution. Validation test showed lower than 5% of coefficient of variation(CV) in intra-, interday validation in lyophilized raw materials and 4 types of commercial products. In inter-person and inter-laboratory validation with 4 persons from 4 different laboratories, CV(%) were 5.50 and 6.64 respectively. The linearity of polysaccharide analysis was assessed using 5 serial concentration of lyophilized raw materials(0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5%(w/v)). The results showed R2 ≥ 0.995 of high linearity. In the commercial aloe vera gel products, the results of reproductivity showed lower than 7.08% and revealed that the standardized method from this study ensured high precision for polysaccharide analysis.
The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate microbial contamination levels of leafy greens (perilla leaf and lettuce) and its distributing conditions at different seasons (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov of the year 2011) in order to provide insight into any potential health hazards associated with consumption of these commodities. Leafy greens were collected from a farm located in Geumsan, Chungnam and wholesale markets (WM) and traditional markets (TM) located in Suwon. At the same time, temperature and relative humidity fluctuations experienced by the leafy greens during distribution from the farm to the distribution center were measured by a data logger. The contamination levels of perilla leaf and lettuce were determined by analyzing total plate count. Coliform groups, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were determined. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliform groups and B. cereus in both vegetables sampled during May and August found to be higher than those sampled during February and November. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes were not detected in the vegetables analyzed in this study. There were no significant trends between samples at WM and TM in the contamination levels. Relative humidity of vegetables distributed from the farm to the distribution center showed over 90% during distribution regardless of measured seasons. In the case of background microflora on leafy greens, the density was significantly increased at 20, 30 and 37oC during storage of 24h. E. coli O157:H7 and B. cereus inoculated on the leaves also showed similar increases in the storage tests. The microbial contamination levels determined in this study may be used as the fundamental data for microbial risk assessment.
In this study, the veridical efficacy of an aquatic disinfectant tablet composed to calcium hypochlorite against red sea bream iridovirus (RBIV). A veridical efficacy was determined with the viability of RBIV contacted with the disinfectant in viral stock cultured in fat head minnow cell line. An aquatic disinfectant tablet and RBIV were reacted on the distilled water (DW), hard water (HW) or organic matter suspension (OM) condition. On DW and HW condition, RBIV was inactivated with 25,000 fold dilutions of an aquatic disinfectant tablet. With the investigation of the antiviral effect of the disinfectant on OM condition, RBIV was inactivated on 22,000 fold dilutions of an aquatic disinfectant tablet. As an aquatic disinfectant tablet possesses veridical efficacy against RBIV, the disinfectant solution can be used to limit the spread of cultured marine fish viral disease.
Vibrio spp. and Streptococcus spp. have caused a considerable disease of farmed fish and economic loss in fish farming and seafood industry. In this study, the efficacy of an aquatic disinfectant tablet composed to calcium hypochlorite was evaluated against V. anguillarum and S. iniae. A bactericidal efficacy test by broth dilution method was used to determine the lowest effective dilution of the disinfectant following exposure to test bacteria for 30 min at 4oC. An aquatic disinfectant tablet and test bacteria were diluted with distilled water (DW), hard water (HW) or organic matter suspension (OM) according to treatment condition. V. anguillarum on the DW, HW and OM condition was completely inactivated with 16,000 15,000 and 13,000 fold dilutions of the disinfectant, respectively. On the DW, HW and OM condition, S. iniae was absolutely inactivated with 17,000 16,000 and 14,000 fold dilutions of the disinfectant, respectively. As an aquatic disinfectant tablet possesses bactericidal efficacy against fish pathogenic bacteria such as V. anguillarum and S. iniae this disinfectant solution can be used to control the spread of fish infective bacterial diseases.
The purpose of this study was to analyze microbiological hazards for plants, cultivation environments and personal hygiene of perilla leaf farms at the harvesting stage. Samples were collected from three perilla leaf farms(A, B, C) located in Gyeongnam, Korea and tested for sanitary indications, fungi and pathogenic bacteria( Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogens, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus). As a result, total bacteria and coliform in perilla leaf were detected at the levels of 4.4~5.2 and 3.4~4.3 log CFU/g, respectively, but E. coli was not detected in all samples. Among the pathogenic bacteria, B. cereus(perilla leaf: 2.0~2.4 log CFU/g, stem: 1.4~2.1 log CFU/g, water: 0.7 log CFU/ml, soil: 4.2~5.0 log CFU/g, hands: 3.0 log CFU/ hand, gloves: 2.1~2.4 log CFU/100 cm2, glothes: 1.5~2.8 log CFU/100 cm2) and S. aureus(3.4 log CFU/hand) were detected in all samples and worker's hand from farm A, respectively. However, other pathogenic bacteria were not detected. This study demonstrates that perilla leaf at the harvesting stage was significantly contaminated with microbial hazards.
This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change in three areas classified to their temperature and precipitation. We investigated the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens of rice flour and 3 rice cakes such as Garaetteok, Sirutteok and Gyeongdan. Contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria in rice flour were 4.9 log CFU/g. In a total of 70 rice flour, yeasts & molds and coliforms were detected in 42 and 52 samples at the levels of 43 CFU/g and 1.29 log CFU/g, respectively. S. aureus were detected in only 1 rice flour (1.66 log CFU/g) out of 70. In an investigation of contamination levels in rice cakes, the population of total aerobic bacteria were highest in Gyeongdan (5.18 log CFU/g) and coliforms were highest in Gareattock (2.93 log CFU/g). There was no detection of E. coli and B. cereus except for only 1 Gareattock (1.20 log CFU/g). There were no differences of contamination levels among the three areas. If constant monitoring of rice cakes and rice flour is conducted on the basis of this study, it is expected to be able to analyze the change of contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change.
Stevioside, a natural sweeteners presently used in various kinds of food and food products in Korea, was evaluated for its toxicity potential in the 14 day feeding study using B6C3F1 mice. Stevioside was added to the diet at different concentrations of 0.31, 0.62, 1.25, 2.5 and 5%, and was administered for 14 consecutive days. An increase of liver organ weight in male mice was observed. No diet-related differences were noted in clinical signs, food consumption, and gross and histopatholgical evaluation. Based on these results, we concluded that the concentration of 5% in the diet was a suitable maximum tolerable dose of stevioside for a 90 day study in mice.
This study was to present the proper probability distribution models that based on the data for surveys of food cold storage temperatures as the input variables to the further MRA (Microbial risk assessment). The temperature was measured by directly visiting 7 food plants. The overall mean temperature for food cold storages in the survey was 2.55 ± 3.55oC, with 2.5% of above 10oC, −3.2oC and 14.9oC as a minimum and maximum. Temperature distributions by space-locations was 0.80 ± 1.69oC, 0.59 ± 1.68oC, and 0.65 ± 1.46oC as an upper (2.4~4 m), middle (1.5~2.4 m), and lower (0.7~1.5 m), respectively. Probability distributions were also created using @RISK program based on the measured temperature data. Statistical ranking was determined by the goodness of fit (GOF) to determine the proper probability distribution model. This result showed that the LogLogistic (−4.189, 5.9098, 3.2565) distribution models was found to be the most appropriate for relative MRA conduction.
In order to determine an authenticity of food ingredient, we used DNA barcode method by universal primers. For identification of animal food ingredients, LCO1490/HCO2198 and VF2/FISH R2 designed for amplifying cytochrome c oxidase subunit1 (CO1) region and L14724/H15915 for cytochrome b (cyt b) region on mitochondrial DNA were used. Livestock (cow, pig, goat, sheep, a horse and deer) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198, VF2/FISH R2 and L14724/H15915 primers. Poultry (chicken, duck, turkey and ostrich) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198 and VF2/FISH R2 primers. But, Fishes (walleye pollack, herring, codfish, blue codfish, trout, tuna and rockfish) were only amplified by VF2/FISH R2 primers. For plant food ingredients, 3 types of primers (trnH/ psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R) have been used an intergenic spacer, a RNA polymerase beta subunit and a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase region on plastid, respectively. Garlic, onion, radish, green tea and spinach were amplified by trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R. The PCR product sizes were same by rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R but, the PCR product size using trnH/psbA primer was different with others for plants each. We established PCR condition and universal primer selection for 17 item's raw materials for foods and determine base sequences aim to PCR products in this study. This study can apply to determine an authenticity of foods through making an comparison between databases and base sequences in gene bank. Therefore, DNA barcode method using universal primers can be a useful for species identification techniques not only raw materials but also processed foods that are difficult to analyze by chemical analysis.