To evaluate the performance of a new automated coliform enumeration system (TEMPO® CC) for the quantitative test of coliform bacteria contaminated in domestic livestock processed foods, a total of 507 samples of livestock foods were tested by the TEMPO® CC method, the most probable number (MPN) method, and Petrifilm method, respectively. The results of those three methods were compared to each other. Of 507 samples of livestock processed foods used in this study, 217 samples were contaminated artificially with coliform bacteria and the rest (n=290) were contaminated naturally. The results of the TEMPO® CC method for all samples were equivalent to those obtained from the MPN method, except 8 samples. In addition, 496 (97.8%) out of 507 samples made agreement between the TEMPO® CC method and the Petrifilm method. The correlation coefficients between TEMPO® CC and MPN methods as well as between TEMPO® CC method and Petrifilm method were above 0.9, and the slope and intercept of the linear regression model was different in less than 1 value. In conclusion, there were statistically equivalent levels of performance between the TEMPO® CC and the reference and alternative methods for the enumeration of coliform bacteria in livestock processed foods in this study.

In this study, microbial investigation is accomplished for 554 Jeot-kal samples (102 of Jeot-kal, 448 of Seasoned Jeot-kal and 4 of Sik-khe, respectively) that corresponds with Coliform-bacteria, Escherichia coli, Aerobic live bacteria as hygienic indicator microorganisms, and Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus as Food-borne pathogenic microorganisms. Based on the methods in Korea Food Code, reliable data are obtained as follows; in 31.9% rate of the samples, Coliform bacteria are verified in the extent of 0~20,000 CFU/g as 2.3 logCFU/g. Especially, Seasoned Jeot-kal (37.7%, 2.3 logCFU/g) are detected to 6 and 2 folds higher than those of Jeot-kal, 5.9% and 1.4 logCFU/g. Likewise, Escherichia coli is detected from 9 samples only in Seasoned Jeot-kal, that includes seasoned squid, seasoned octopus, seasoned roe of pollack, seasoned large-eyed herring and seasoned hairtail. Aerobic live bacteria are also detected in the range of 0~8.9 × 108 CFU/g. Against salinity, E. coli are detected in samples only less than 10% salinity. Concomitantly, aerobic live bacteria count is decreased to 5.5~3.6 log CFU/g upon the salinity is increased up to 25%. However, S. aureus and V. parahaemolyticus are not detected in 554 samples, presumptively referring Jeot-kal products are somehow free from such food-borne pathogens. As the results above, we deliberately consider that the sanitary control in Jeot-kal, which be necessarily fermented- as well as non-microbially inactivated should be ensured in near future and also suggest an effectual microbial standard corresponding to the Negativity in E. coli for Jeot-kal products.

The number of viable microorganism in drinking water was monitored according to storage temperature and storage period. The number of general bacteria in underground water was 10²-10^5CFU/ml and that of coliform group was decreased after 7days. The number of general bacteria in bottle water was increased until 7days but decreased after that day. Coliform group in bottle water were detected only 1 sample. The number of general bacteria in purified water was 10³-10⁴CFU/ml and 10²-10⁴CFU/ml at 8 and 25, respectively. Coliform group were not detected in purified water.