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.

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were determined during storage at 15, 25, and 35℃ for six months to predict shelf-life of four fried rice retort dishes. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were increased significantly and pH and acid values did not show any significant differences. Microbiological contamination levels were estimated as safe. Sensory evaluation were tested over 4 points during storage period. It maintained the commercial value during the shelf-life. TBA value as an effective quality indicator was used to estimate shelf-life with Arrhenius equation. The estimated shelf-life were 1,408 days (46 months) for beef fried rice, 1,353 days (44 months) for Ham fried rice, 1,164 (38 months) days for chicken curry fried rice and 1,182 (39 months) days for bacon tuna fried rice. In conclusion, shelf-life of all four fried rice dishes was predicted as longer than three years (36months) at room temperature.