This study was conducted to provide basic data on the amount of sodium and the setting of permissible error range of actual measurement, which is a problem for cabbage kimchi nutrients subject to labeling. The sample targeted was baechu (Kimchi cabbage) kimchi, which might have a large variation in sodium content by part of kimchi. Kimchi samples were collected twice from eight companies by season (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The average sodium content in kimchi samples was 619±87 mg/100 g (range, 534±63 mg/100 g to 783±40 mg/100 g). The error in average annual sodium content of abandonment kimchi (maximum value difference compared to the minimum value) was 26.8 to 64.3%. Sodium contents in kimchi produced in spring and summer were relatively low. However, deviation between individuals was large. It was found that cases exceeding the permissible error (120%) standard varied depending on the criteria for setting the amount of sodium. In addition, due to seasonal differences, sodium content in kimchi exceeded 120% of the labeling value. Thus, it is necessary to set standards suitable for characteristics of kimchi to prevent unintentional violations of labeling standards by raw materials and manufacturing processes.

The preparation of commercial, low-salinity kimchi needs to be carefully monitored to maintain the taste of kimchi. To address this, the taste profiles of three brands of commercial kimchi were examined using a taste sensing system, as well as a sensory evaluation. The average sensory score (4.3/9.0) in the overall taste of low-salinity kimchi (A', B', and C') was significantly lower than that (5.1/9.0) of conventional kimchi (A, B, and C). The explanation for the result of A' seemed to be its decrease in saltiness (3.51) and increase in bitterness (8.55) compared to those (6.55 and 7.65, respectively) of A. In B', the saltiness (4.25) and the overall taste (3.7) were significantly decreased compared to B (6.23 and 4.8, respectively). Interestingly, no significant difference was observed in the overall taste (5.1) and saltiness (6.70) of C' when compared to C (5.3 and 6.46, respectively), confirming that salinity is a crucial factor in determining overall taste. Consistent with this finding, the overall taste of low-salinity kimchi correlated positively with its saltiness (>0.98) and umami (>0.82). These results advocate the careful determination of salinity required to maintain the taste of conventional kimchi in preparing low-salinity kimchi, while also pointing towards the need to develop effective taste enhancers for supplementing overall taste.

This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbial quality characteristic of seasonal commercial kimchi for hygienic safety levels. The pH of seasonal commercial kimchi was 3.84-6.36 and the titratable acidity and salinity of the samples were 0.21-1.16 and 1.19-1.54%, respectively. The content of nitrate and nitrite in the commercial kimchi were lower in the spring and summer, which was affected by acidic condition of the kimchi depending on fermentation. Heavy metal contents in commercial kimchi are not an issue because they were detected only at very low levels. The total aerobic bacteria and coliforms counts ranged from 5.25 to 8.44 Log CFU/g and 0.00 to 5.08 Log CFU/g, respectively. The total aerobic bacteria and coliforms were detected more in summer than in the other seasons. E. coli was detected in three of the samples tested. Food-borne pathogens were not detected in any of the samples except for B. cereus. B. cereus was detected in the fall in more than 70% of samples. These results suggest that commercial kimchi distributed in the fall maintain the quality properties and the microbiological safety of kimchi compared to the other seasons. Therefore, further studies as an effective distribution system for the particular seasons will be needed to guarantee the hygienic safety levels of commercial kimchi required by the consumers.

본 연구는 시판 김치에 대한 소비자 인식을 통해 재료의 비율을 최적화하여 최적의 김치양념장을 개발하기 위한 연구이다. 189명의 20대이상 여성을 대상으로 조사를 실시하여 김치양념 재료 중 액젓, 젓갈, 물의 비율을 반응최적화 도구을 통해 최적 김치양념장 레시피를 선정하였다. 조사 대상 중 30대가 41.3%로 가장 많았고, 직업은 주부, 기타 직업, 학생순으로 조사되었다. 시판되는 김치를 구매하고 싶은 이유로 가정에서 김치를 만들기 번거로운 면과 경제 적인 면을 많이 꼽았으며, 나이가 어릴수록 김치를 만드는 방법을 모르기 때문이라는 답변이 많았다. 또한 가족 구성원 수가 적을수록 김치를 적게 먹어서 시판김치를 구매하는 경향이 있었다. 시판김치를 구매하지 않고 싶은 이유로 재료에 대한 믿음과 비싼 가격에 대한 이유가 높게 나타났고, 수입이 많을수록 인공조미료 사용 때문에 시판김치를 구매하지 않는다는 의견이 많았다. 김치에 대한 선호 맛은 감칠맛, 매운맛, 젓갈맛, 짠맛, 단맛 순이었으며, 나이가 어릴수록 짠맛을 선호하고, 41세 이상은 젓갈맛을 선호하는 것으로 조사되었다. 사전 조사 및 설문조사를 통해 김치 양념장제조시 조정 해야 할 재료를 멸치액젓, 물, 새우젓으로 선정하여 배합 비율을 조정하여 기호도에 대한 최적화를 잡은 결과 ‘–11.00A + 4.30B + 1.70C + 31.37AB + 33.56AC – 7.35BC’ (A: 멸치 액젓, B: 물, C: 새우젓)의 회귀식을 나타냈고, 멸치 액젓, 물, 새우젓의 최적 비율은 27.12 : 62.88 : 10.00 (w/w)이었다. 이 같은 연구 결과는 김치 양념 의 최적화를 통해 보다 좋은 맛과 품질의 김치를 개발할 데이터로 활용 가능하며, 고객 맞춤형 김치 양념장 개발에도 사용가능 할 것으로 보인다.

This study was to investigate purchase of women for commercial kimchi. Survey was carried out by questionnaire method that is target on 322 female over 20 age in Seoul area. The results of the study was that the way they get kimchi of women answered that they make it by themselves(63.3%). The reason of purchasing is they do not have enough time to make it at their home(43.8%) and its good taste(56.8%) result in their purchase. In the degree of preference about package material, prefer polyethylene(39.6%). Also respondents prefer purchasing poggi kimchi(63.4%) among other different types of kimchi. The promotion facts of purchasing commercial kimchi shows a high score in cold chain system package and specific kimchi development.

Survey on the usage of commercial poggi Kimchi was run and consumer's acceptance test of the Kimchi in the various regions of Korea including Seoul(SE), Kyonggi Province(KG), Kangwon Province(KW), Kyungsang Province(KS), and Jeonla Province(JL) were investigated. Survey result of 34% of consumer showed that they eat Kimchi very much, and 19% answered they ate Wimchi whenever they had chance to eat. The most desired points of improvement in commercial poggi Kimchi were as following; Taste and degree of fermentation should be standardized. Order of preferences of minor ingredients of Kimchi were radish, hot pepper, welsh onion, and leek, respectively. Consumer acceptance test of KS sample group showed higher preference in whole color, salted condition, spicy hot flavor and crispness than the others. In whole color and pickled seafood properties, KG sample group showed significantly higher values than the others. In salty flavor, SE sample group showed lower preference than the others.

국내 김치 산업체의 김치위생상태 현황을 조사하기 위하여 반찬가게김치, 중소기업김치, 대기업김치를 에서 10일간 발효하면서 발효시간에 김치의 일반특성 및 미생물 균총 변화를 조사하였다. 3종류 시판김치의 구입당일 pH는 평균 5.8에서 발효 10일에는 pH 4.1 부근으로 감소하였으나, 대기업김치가 다른 시판김치에 비해 발효초기 급격한 pH 감소를 나타내었다. 시판김치의 구입당일 산도는 대기업김치가 다른 두 종류의 시판김치보다 낮았으나, 발효 10