This study was conducted to investigate the application of ATP bioluminescence to measure the degree of microbial contamination from raw meat, meat processing and milk processing lines. Samples collected from slaughter house, meat and milk processing plants were tested for estimation of bacterial number by using ATP bioluminescence and conventional method. The former result was transffered to R-mATP value(log RLU/㎖), and the latter transffered to CFU(log/㎖). Correlation coefficient(r) between aerobic counts(CFU, log/㎖) and R-mATP(log RLU/㎖) value was 0.93(n=408). R-mATP of aerobic counts from beef, pork, chicken was 0.93(n=220), and that was 0.93(n=187) between meat processing and dairy processing plants. In addition, Correlation coefficient(r) between aerobic counts and R-mATP was 0.87(n=252) under 1 × 10^5/㎖ of bacterial count and 0.74(n=152) over l0^5 respectively.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the main source of contamination of dried red pepper by assessing microbial loads on red peppers, washing water, washing machines, harvesting containers, and worker gloves that had come in contact with the dried red pepper. To estimate microbial loads, indicator bacteria (total bacteria, coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli) and pathogenic bacteria (E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens) were enumerated. The results showed that the numbers of indicator bacteria increased significantly after washing red peppers compared with that before washing (p<0.05). Moreover, E. coli and Listeria spp. were recovered from the red peppers after washing and from the ground water used in the washing process. The number of indicator bacteria on red peppers dried in the green house was lower than that on red peppers dried in a dry oven (p<0.05). However, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and C. perfringens were not detected. These results suggested that a disinfection technique may be needed during the washing step in order to prevent potential contamination. In addition, hygienic practices during the drying step using the dry oven, such as establishment of an optimal temperature, should be developed to enhance the safety of dried red pepper.

Background:The study was conducted to investigate the distributions of faecal bacteria in commercial oriental medicine herb products.Methods and Results:A survey was conducted on the microbial contamination levels and antimicrobial specificity of Bacillus cereus and other microbes using 106 oriental medicine herb products on sale in Seoul. Pouring and isolation methods such as standard plate counts were used to identify the bacteria. The isolated bacterias included coliforms, Bacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Listeria spp.were identified by using gram staining and an API (analytical profile index) kit. Antimicrobial drugs discs were determined by CLSI (clinical and laboratory standards institute).Conclusions:The bacterial isolates present in the herbal medicines included 98 coliforms, 45 Bacillus spp., 29 Enterococcus spp., and 2 Listeria spp. Among these, there were nine Bacillus cereus strains, one Enterococcus faecium strain, and one Enterococcus faecalis strain present. The 9 Bacillus cereus strains were tested for susceptibility to 36 types of antibiotics products by the disc diffusion method. The strains showed resistance to 13 of these antibiotic products and semi-resistance to 5 antibiotic products. On the basis of these results, any oriental medicine herb product can be assumed to be contain resistant or semi-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, we suggest prescribing guidelines and special management for the use of antibiotics in farms producing oriental medicine herb products.

With the rapid growth of fresh-cut produce market, the South Korean fresh-cut industry is facing the challenge of ensuring food safety. As the estimation of the microbial numbers in fresh-cut produce processing lines (tools, and equipment) using the conventional microbiological techniques takes days, so there is a need for faster and easier monitoring methods. This study was conducted to investigate the use of ATP bioluminescence assay to measure the degree of microbial contamination from three actual fresh-cut processing lines. The samples collected from frech-cut vegetables, and fresh-cut fruits processing plants were tested for the estimation of the bacterial number, using the ATP bioluminescence and microbiological methods. The result of former was transferred to log RLU/100 cm2, and that of the latter was transferred to log CFU/100 cm2. A positive linear correlation between the ATP bioluminescence assay value and aerobic-plate count was found for fresh-cut processing lines, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8772 (n=50). The results of this study indicate that ATP bioluminescence assay can be used to monitor microbial contamination in fresh-cut produce processing plants, and can help improve the hygiene therein.

Sediment works as a resource for electric cells. This paper was designed in order to verify how sediment cells work with anodic material such as metal and carbon fiber. As known quite well, sediment under sea, rivers or streams provides a furbished environment for generating electrons via some electron transfer mechanism within specific microbial population or corrosive oxidation on the metal surfaces in the presence of oxygen or water molecules. We experimented with one type of sediment cell using different anodic material so as to attain prolonged, maximum electric power. Iron, Zinc, aluminum, copper, zinc/copper, and graphite felt were tested for anodes. Also, combined type of anodes-metal embedded in the graphite fiber matrix-was experimented for better performances. The results show that the combined type of anodes exhibited sustainable electricity production for ca. 600 h with max. 0.57 W/㎡ Al/Graphite. Meanwhile, graphite-only electrodes produced max. 0.11 W/㎡ along with quite stationary electric output, and for a zinc electrode, in which the electricity generated was not stable with time, therefore resulting in relatively sharp drop in that after 100 h or so, the maximum power density was 0.64 W/㎡. It was observed that the corrosive reaction rates in the metal electrodes might be varied, so that strength and stability in the electric performances(voltage and current density) could be affected by them. In addition to that, COD(chemical oxygen demand) of the sediment of the cell system was reduced by 17.5∼36.7% in 600 h, which implied that the organic matter in the sediment would be partially converted into non-COD substances, that is, would suggest a way for decontamination of the aged, anaerobic sediment as well. The pH reduction for all electrodes could be a sign of organic acid production due to complicated chemical changes in the sediment.

Microbial contamination levels in a fresh-cut leafy vegetable processing plant were evaluated. Total plate counts of samples collected from the walls, equipment, and raw materials ranged from CFU/100 , CFU/100 , and CFU/g, respectively. No coliforms were detected on walls; however, equipment and raw materials contained coliforms in concentrations ranging from ND (not detected)to CFU/100 and CFU/g, respectively. Additionally, total plate counts for falling and floating bacteria in the processing plant were CFU/plate and , respectively. Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, or Listeria monocytogenes were not detected on walls, equipment, or raw materials. Overall, the results of this study indicate that hygiene control in the fresh-cut processing plant should be improved.

We evaluated the microbiological quality of a facility in which freshly cut onions were prepared. The total plate counts on walls, equipment, and raw materials were ND (not detected) to CFU/100 , CFU/100 , and CFU/g, respectively. No coliforms were detected on walls however, coliforms were detected at concentrations of ND to CFU/100 and CFU/g on equipment and raw materials, respectively. The total plate counts for falling and floating bacteria in the processing plant were ND to CFU/plate and , respectively. Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected on walls, equipment, or raw materials. Overall, the results of the study indicate that hygiene control at the fresh-cut processing plant should be improved.

신선편이 당근채 세척시 오존수 사용에 의한 품질 및 안전성 향상 효과를 구명하기 위해 연구를 수행하였다. 세척 당근을 절단한 뒤 100ppm의 염소수에 1, 2회 세척 및 오존발생장치에서 공급되는 초기 오존수 농도 2ppm에서 1,5, 20분 세척한 뒤 투과율 필름으로 포장하여 에서 3주간 저장되었다. 당근채의 오존수 세척처리는 저장 중 포장내부의 기체 조성, 당근채의 품질 및 미생물 수에 영향을 미쳤다. 오존수 20분 처리는 당근채 저장