This study was conducted to obtain basic information for the use of the ATP fluorescence detection method in consideration of the most common and frequent contamination situation that occurs in laboratories dealing with fire blight causing bacterium, Erwinia amylovora. ATP luminescence measurements (Relative Light Unit, RLU) were tested against these pathogen cells (CFU/cm2) which were artificially introduced on the disinfected surface of a bench floor of a biosafety cabinet (Class 2 Type A1), on a part of the disinfected surface of a lab experimental bench, on a part of the disinfected floor, and on a part of the disinfected floor of an acryl chamber for bioaerosol studies in a biosafety laboratory (BSL 2 class) using two different ATP bioluminometers. RLU values were not much increased with the bacterial cells from 2.15 × 102/cm2 to 2.15 × 106/cm2. RLU values varied among the four different surfaces tested. RLU values measured from the same number of bacterial cells differed little between the two different ATP bioluminometers used for this study. RLU values obtained from bacterial cells higher than 2.15 × 107/cm2 indicated the presence of bacterial contamination on the four different surfaces tested. The R2 values obtained based on the correlation data for the RLU values in response to different E. amylovora cell numbers (CFU/ cm2) on the surfaces of the four test spots ranged from 0.9827 to 0.9999.

외식산업의 급속한 성장과 함께 호텔을 비롯한 외식업체에서는 식품안전 요구 및 위생에 대한 중요성 이 증가하고 있다. 이에 현장에서 위생상태를 판단할 수 있는 신속하고 실용적인 모니터링기법이 요구된다. 본 연구는 국내5성급 호텔 5군데를 대상으로 개인위생(작업자의 손), 조리기구(칼, 도마, 식품보관용기, 슬라이스 머신 칼날, 제빙기 스쿱), 시설·설비(냉장고 손잡이, 작업대, 싱크대), 고객 접점항목(뷔페용 집게)에 대한 위생관리 실태를 조사하였고 그에 대한 검증법인 ATP 값의 상관관계를 도출하고자 하였다. 5개 호텔의 위생관리 실태조사 결과, 다른 검사 항목보다 상대적으로 조리기구 및 개인위생 결과가 비교적 위생적으로 관리되고 있었으며(조리기구 92.2%, 개인위생 91.4%, 시설·설비 76.19%, 고객 접점항목 88.6%) 으로 시설·설비는 비교적 미흡한 것으로 나타났다. ATP검사 결과, 조리 기구(51±45 RLU/25 cm2)는 시설·설비(167±123 RLU/25 cm2)보다 비교적 위생적으로 잘 관리되었다. 위생실태 조사 결과 점수와 ATP 값의 상관성 분석을 실시한 결과, 각 호텔 별 작업자 손, 조리기구, 시설·설비의 대부분 음의 상관관계를 가지며 높은 상관성(-0.64 - -0.89) 을 보였다. 또한 이번 연구에서 각 검사 항목의 평소 상태의 ATP 값(1020±1254 RLU/25 cm2)에 비해 세척 후 ATP 값(92±67 RLU/25 cm2)이 현저히 감소되어 세척의 유효성을 확인하는 도구로 적합성을 확인할 수 있었다. 호텔을 비롯한 외식업체에서 수행하는 주관적인 위생실태조사와 ATP 검사법을 병행한다면, 실시간으로 보이지 않는 오염 물질의 객관적인 수치화를 통해 식품사고 발생을 예방하기 위한 효과적인 모니터링 방법이 될 것으로 사료된다.

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the hygienic status of 53 high school foodservice systems in Gyeonggi province by using hygiene management guide checklist, ATP bioluminescence assay of food utensils were conducted during process. The 5 hygiene management guide checklist groups about personal hygiene, cooking facilities control, cross contamination control, cook and storage control, management control were checked by experts and had good grades but there were some inadequate behaviors on observation. Total cleaning levels were inadequate, including hand, rubber gloves, aprons, knives, food tray, machine and instruments. The possibility of cross contamination is also noted in handles for refrigerators, ovens, food dryers, hand washing. It was also noted that there were too much work on the nutritionist and cook, additional personnel need to be added. lack of space, deterioration of facilities were identified in some high school foodservice systems. ATP bioluminescence assay was conducted on surface of food facilities, ATP ranged 1,393±5,041.2 RLU on yellow gloves, 244±258.7 RLU on pink gloves, 3,780±11,418.6 RLU on apron, 49,056±62,831.4 RLU on refrigerator grip, 41,422±61,259.8 RLU in oven, 31,407±41,344.9 RLU on hand cleaning board.

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the hygienic status of 33 high school foodservice systems in Yongin city by using hygiene management guide checklist, ATP bioluminescence assay and microbe inspection petrifilm (APC, coliform group, Staphylococcus aureus) of food utensils during use. The 22 hygiene management guide checklist items about facilities, personal hygiene, food control, distribution, washing and disinfection had good grade but there were some inadequate behaviors on observation. The inspection results showed their sanitary condition met the level B of the recommendation of Korea method, it means sanitary management system get settled but more practical CCP system was needed. ATP bioluminescence assay was conducted on surface of food facilities, ATP ranged 425~2,552 RLU on gloves, 541~70,251 RLU on apron, 1,596~88,490 RLU on working desk, 1,177~263,813 RLU on sterilizer grip, 715~32,814 RLU on sterilizer shelf, 114~619,725 RLU on refrigerator grip, 677~319,007 RLU on refrigerator shelf, 71~196,725 RLU on freezer grip, 1,535~233,375 RLU on freezer shelf. APC ranged 66.7±29.0 CFU on freezer grip, 102.1±35.9 CFU on refrigerator grip, 45.4±28.2 CFU on heating cabinet grip, 58.8±40.4 CFU on sterilizer grip, the number of coliform group ranged 5.6±4.9 CFU on freezer grip, 9.1±8.7 CFU on refrigerator grip, 1.2±1.1 CFU on heating cabinet grip, 4.5±4.4 CFU on sterilizer grip. S. aureus ranged 8.0±5.6, CFU on freezer grip, 12.2±9.6 CFU on refrigerator grip, 2.1±1.6 CFU on heating cabinet grip, 11.6±6.4 CFU on sterilizer grip.

Currently food-borne disease is being increased at outdoor food services including hotels and restaurants. Speedy and convenient practical monitoring techniques to determine hygienic conditions are needed. This study was designed to verify correlation of direct ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) examination method using ATP bioluminescence and surveillance with check-list by inspector. Hygienic status of personal hygiene (hands), kitchen utensils (knives, chopping boards, kitchen towels, cap openers, food storage containers, and blade of slice machines), facilities and equipments (refrigerator handles, worktables, and sinks) in five major hotels in Seoul were examined. The result of personal hygiene of hotels was relatively better than other inspection items (46.6 points in personal hygiene, 40.2 points in kitchen utensils, 40.3 points in facilities & equipments). In ATP inspection, kitchen utensils and facilities & equipments were relatively clean comparing with personal hands data (40.8 ± 6.77 RLU/cm²). After correlation analysis of surveillance in hygienic status points and ATP value, all results showed negative and high correlation. The surveillance data and ATP results investigating personal hygiene, kitchen utensils and facilities & equipments were highly correlated. The ATP examination method which shows real-time identification could be considered as an appropriate method to alternate current check-list dependent safety management in food services including hotels.

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.