The purpose of this study was to assess consumption and satisfaction with fresh-cut produce in Korean adults. In this study, an online survey November 9~13, 2020 was conducted with 982 Korean adults age 19~64 (490 males and 492 females) with experience in purchasing fresh-cut produce in the past year. Among all respondents, the percentage with experience in buying ‘washed or peeled vegetables’ was the highest (71.18%), followed by those in buying ‘packaged salads/sprouts/ssam vegetables’ (64.15%), ‘pre-cut fruits/fruit cups’ (59.98%), ‘pre-cut or minced vegetables’ (56.01%), and ‘washed or peeled fruits’ (53.67%), respectively. Among the types of fresh-cut produce, ‘packaged salads/sprouts/ssam vegetables’ showed the highest satisfaction score at 3.73 pts, and the overall satisfaction score of fresh-cut produce consumption was also 3.73 pts. Compared to male respondents, female respondents showed a significantly higher percentage of respondents that purchased ‘packaged salads/sprouts/ssam vegetables’ (p=0.0409), significantly higher satisfaction scores (p=0.0124), and a higher percentage of respondents considering ‘freshness’ important when purchasing (p<0.0001). Additionally, the group with high household income comprised a significantly higher ratio of respondents considering ‘eco-friendly or organic status’ important. The study results may facilitate identify areas for improvement of fresh-cut produce in the future.

The health benefits associated with consumption of fresh produce have been clearly demonstrated and encouraged by international nutrition and health authorities. However, since fresh produce is usually minimally processed, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has also led to a simultaneous escalation of foodborne illness cases. According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 people suffer from foodborne diseases and 420,000 die every year globally. In comparison to other processed foods, fresh produce can be easily contaminated by various routes at different points in the supply chain from farm to fork. This review is focused on the identification and characterization of possible sources of foodborne illnesses from chemical, biological, and physical hazards and the applicable methodologies to detect potential contaminants. Agro-chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), natural toxins (mycotoxins and plant toxins), and heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) are the main sources of chemical hazards, which can be detected by several methods including chromatography and nano-techniques based on nanostructured materials such as noble metal nanoparticles (NMPs), quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles or nanotube. However, the diversity of chemical structures complicates the establishment of one standard method to differentiate the variety of chemical compounds. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables contain high nutrient contents and moisture, which promote the growth of unwanted microorganisms including bacterial pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli O157: H7, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and non-bacterial pathogens (norovirus and parasites). In order to detect specific pathogens in fresh produce, methods based on molecular biology such as PCR and immunology are commonly used. Finally, physical hazards including contamination by glass, metal, and gravel in food can cause serious injuries to customers. In order to decrease physical hazards, vision systems such as X-ray inspection have been adopted to detect physical contaminants in food, while exceptional handling skills by food production employees are required to prevent additional contamination.

본 연구는 부패미생물의 종류와 차이를 알아보기 위해 유기농산물과 일반농산물(깻잎, 양배추, 상추)을 구입하여 4oC에 14일 저장한 후 일반목적배지를 사용하여 미생물을 분리 및 16S rRNA sequencing방법을 이용하여 동정하였다. 유기농산물 깻잎, 양배추, 상추의 총균수는 5-7 log10 CFU/g 수준이었고, 일반농산물의 총균수는 5-8 log10 CFU/ g 수준이었다. 유기농산물보다는 일반농산물이 총균수를 더 많이 내재하고 있으나 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았 다(p > 0.05). 유기농산물 깻잎에서 발견된 주요 균은 Microbacterium sp.이었으며, 일반농산물 깻잎에서 발견된 주요 균은 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia이었다. 또한, 유기농산물에서 부패를 일으킬 수 있는 균인 Klebsiella pneumonia 가 발견되었으며, 일반농산물보다 유기농산물에서 발견된 균의 종류가 더 많은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이에 본 연구 결과는 부패미생물에 대한 이해를 높이고 농산물의 신선도 및 유통기한을 늘리기 위한 새로운 살균소독제 및 부패 억제제를 개발하는데 좋은 기초자료로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

There have been growing concerns among people about food safety due to insufficient information on foodborne pathogens. In this study, we developed a risk priority of 15 foodborne pathogens. For the priority determination we collected risk profile criteria information from CODEX Alimentarius Commission and developed countries. The basis for criteria we selected from information of surveillance were frequency and severity of disease, frequency of consumption and probability of cross-contamination. We also considered foodborne pathogens which have been managed in developed countries though those pathogens are not currently managed appropriately in Korea. Priorities were divided into three groups following these consideration. The first priority group includes Norovirus, pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella spp, Clostridium botulinum and Listeria monocytogenes. The second priority group includes Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Stapylococcus aureus, Campylobacter jejuni and Bacillus cereus, and the third priority group includes Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella spp, Cronobacter sakazakii and Hepatitis A virus. Our results could be applied to prevent foodborne illness from fresh produce.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microbiological contamination of fresh-cut produce salads and raw cabbage toward climate change. Total aerobic bacteria, coliform and Escherichia coli were monitored to get the contamination levels and E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. to detect pathogens with risk of foodborne disease from samples. Collection of 360 samples (180 fresh-cut produce salads and 180 raw cabbage), including 60 samples from each area after setting 3 areas depending on annual temperature and annual rainfall. As a result, total aerobic bacteria and coliform group were different was performed areas in raw cabbage but there was no difference between areas in fresh-cut produce salads. In addition foodborne pathogens including E. coli were not isolated from fresh-cut produce salads.

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.

To develop natural antimicrobial agents for keeping qualities of postharvested greenhouse produce the antimiocrobial actions of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. extract , which showed remarkable antimicrobial effects against microorganism causing the postharvest decay of greenhouse produce, were investigate. In the inhibitory experiment of enzymes related to energy production metabolism hexokinase activities decreased to 73% and 68% by treating with Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et.Zucc. extract and Eugenia caryophyllata Thumnberg extract in comparison with control, respectively. Direct visualization of microbial cells by using both transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope showed that microbial cell membrane was destroyed by treating with the dilute extract solution. this change of celluloar membrane permeability could be identified in the experiment that 0-nitrophenyl--D-galactopyrano-side(ONPG), the artificial substrate of -galactosidase, was hydrolyzed in the presence of the extract, indicating that the membrane was perturbed. The separation and identification of the most antimicrobialo substances isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et. Zucc. extract and Eugenia caryophyllata Thunberg extract were carried out by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry 9GC/MSD), which were identified as eugenol. As a result, the functionality of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. extract and Eugenia caryophyllata Thunberg extract as antimicrobial agents for keeping qualities of postharvested greenhouse produce may be recommended.

약용식물로부터 항균활성소재를 ethanol로 추출하고, 각 추출물의 시설원예산물에 대한 선도유지제로서의 기능과 효능을 입증하기 위하여, 변패된 시설원예산물에서 분리된 Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium xerosis, Pseudomonas syringae 및 Enterobacter aerogenes를 공시균주로 사용하여 항균성을 실험한 결과, 호장, 정향, 치자, 황금, 적작약, 결명자 등에서 항균성을 확인하였고, 여기에서

Korean medicinal herb extracts(KMHE) were applied to the preservation of greenhouse produce in order to prove their effectiveness. KMHE showed remarkable antimicrobial effects against Bacillus cereus, Peudomonas syringae, and Corynebacterium xerosis causing the postharvest decay of greenhouse produce. Among KMHE the extracts of Rheum palmatum L. and Coptis chinensis Franch most obviously inhibited the growth of microorganims causing the Postharvest decay of greenhouse produce, which destroyed to undetectable levels when treated with more than 500ppm of KMHE. The activities of KMHE were stable in the wide spectrum of pH and temperature. Direct visualization of microbial cells by using both transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope showed microbial cell membrane the function of which was destroyed by treating with the dilute solutions of KMHE. This change of cellular membrane permeability could be identified in the experiment that O-nitrophenyl--D-galactopyranoside(ONPG), the artificial substrate of -galactosidase, was hydrolyzed in the presence of KMHE, indicating that the membrane was perturbed by KMHE.