편의식 소비가 증가하는 식문화가 정착되면서 쌀의 소비형태가 전통적인 쌀밥에서 편의식 가공제품 형태로 변화되면서 떡류는 훌륭한 대체재로 자리 잡아가고 있다. 하지만 대부분의 떡은 소규모의 영세한 업체에서 제조되고 있으며 구입 후 별도의 조리과정 없이 그대로 섭취하므로 떡의 미생물학적 안전성에 대한 우려가 증가되는 추세이다. 따라서 본 연구는 떡류에서 발생하는 미생물학적 안전성을 개선하고자 소규모 업체의 떡류, 생산 환경 및 작 업자의 미생물 오염도를 조사하였다. 3가지 떡(가래떡, 인절미, 경단)을 선정하여 원료, 제조공정 및 제조환경에 대한 미생물 오염도를 측정한 결과, 6가지 원재료에서 일반 세균 3.76-4.48, 대장균군 2.21-4.14, B. cereus 1.02-1.15 log CFU/g 수준으로 검출되었고, E. coli는 검출되지 않았다. 떡의 제조공정별 오염도 분석결과, 세척과정 후 원재료의 일반세균, 대장균군 및 B. cereus의 오염도가 감소하였지만 불림, 분쇄공정에서 다시 증가하였고, 증자 후에는 3종류의 떡에서 모두 검출한계 이하의 수준을 보였다. 그러나 증자 이후 성형 및 냉각과정을 거치면서 오염도가 다시 증가하여 이 과정에서 냉각수 및 성형떡의 고물관리에 대한 주의를 시사하였다. 떡의 제조환경에 대한 미생 물학적 오염도 분석결과, 쌀 분쇄기 및 떡고물 작업환경에 대한 오염 수준이 높게 나타났으며, 성형기에서도 일반세균, 대장균 및 B. cereus가 검출되어 작업환경에서의 기구 및 제조설비 관리가 필요하였다. 제조설비 및 환경에서의 오염은 원재료와의 교차오염을 일으킬 수 있으므로 체계적인 세척 및 소독 등으로 미생물학적 위해를 감소시켜야 할 것으로 사료된다.

Aims: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the possible use of the psycrhotrophic, acid producing, and non-pathogenic microflora of the target chilled food (e.g. imitation crab sticks, ICSs) as time-temperature integrator-based materials for a quality indicator of the food. Methods and Results: Three strains out of four hundred and twelve psychrotrophic LAB colonies isolated from the ICSs were selected and identified as the genus Weissella (16S rDNA gene sequences), Gram-positive, catalase-negative, acid producing, and not hemolytic. Three prototype TTIs were correspondingly developed. A modified imitation crab medium was used as the bacterial nutrient source. The color change of a particular TTI in response to the experimental static and dynamic temperature conditions well represented the microbial growth and spoilage points of the Pseudomonas spp. and LAB which were justified as the spoilage microorganisms of thirty-three commercial ICSs. Conclusions: The psychrotrophic LAB based TTI is likely to be an effective tool for monitoring ICSs shelf life during storage and distribution. Significance and Impact of the Study: This finding suggests that the indigenous microflora of target food can be considered as potential materials for customizing a new TTI particularly for the target food. The food analog is potentially used as the microbial medium.

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change in three areas classified to their temperature and precipitation. We investigated the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens of rice flour and 3 rice cakes such as Garaetteok, Sirutteok and Gyeongdan. Contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria in rice flour were 4.9 log CFU/g. In a total of 70 rice flour, yeasts & molds and coliforms were detected in 42 and 52 samples at the levels of 43 CFU/g and 1.29 log CFU/g, respectively. S. aureus were detected in only 1 rice flour (1.66 log CFU/g) out of 70. In an investigation of contamination levels in rice cakes, the population of total aerobic bacteria were highest in Gyeongdan (5.18 log CFU/g) and coliforms were highest in Gareattock (2.93 log CFU/g). There was no detection of E. coli and B. cereus except for only 1 Gareattock (1.20 log CFU/g). There were no differences of contamination levels among the three areas. If constant monitoring of rice cakes and rice flour is conducted on the basis of this study, it is expected to be able to analyze the change of contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change.

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.

파프리카(Capsicum annuum var. angulosum)는 우리나라의 대표적인 수출농산물로서 지속적인 수출확대를 위해서는 안전성 확보가 중요하다. 지금까지 수출과채류의 생물학적 위해요소에 대한 연구는 많이 이루어 지지 않았다. 본 연구는 우리나라의 대표적인 수출 농산물인 파프리카를 대상으로 미생물오염실태를 모니터링하고, 보관온도에 따른 세균오염도 변화를 분석하였다. 파프리카의 평균 총호 기성균 수는 log CFU/g이었으며, 대장균군은