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Tango CN, Wei S, Khan I, Hussain MS, Kounkeu PFN, Park JH, Kim SH, Oh DH. Microbiological Quality and Safety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables at Retail Levels in Korea. J Food Sci 2018; 83:386-392. [PMID: 29337344 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.13992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and safety of fresh produce at retail level in Korea in order to periodically update information and establish available risks associated with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. The samples from different markets located in 3 provinces of South Korea were collected. The protocol in the Korean Food Standards Codex was applied and generic Escherichia coli, coliforms, aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), and yeast and mold (YM) in 360 packaged and unpackaged fresh fruits and vegetables were analyzed. Presence of pathogens was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) after enrichment of samples. For all, the microbial counts ranged from 1.7 to 10.6 log cfu/g for AMB, 2.2 to 7.9 log cfu/g for coliforms, and 5.5 to 7.9 log cfu/g for YM. Three lettuce samples were contaminated by E. coli with a bacterial load ranging from 2 to 4 log cfu/g. Salmonella spp. were not detected in any fresh produce. Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus were found in 1 (0.6%), 3 (0.8%), and 5 (1.4%) fresh produce samples, respectively. Bacillus cereus (50.3%) and Clostridium perfringens (13.3%) had the highest prevalence. These results indicate the need for employing strict control measures and developing preventive strategies to improve the quality and safety of fresh produce in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Nkufi Tango
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
- Dept. of Chemistry and Agricultural Industries, Faculty of Agronomy, Univ. of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 117 Kinshasa XI, D.R. Congo
| | - Shuai Wei
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Imran Khan
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammad Shakhawat Hussain
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Paul-François Ngnitcho Kounkeu
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong-Hyun Park
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hun Kim
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Deog Hwan Oh
- Dept. of Food Science and Biotechnology, Coll. of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National Univ., Hyoja 2 dong, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
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Khalil RK, Gomaa MA. Prevalence and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in fruits and vegetables sold at local street markets in Alexandria, Egypt. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2016.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Kaiser ML, Williams ML, Basta N, Hand M, Huber S. When Vacant Lots Become Urban Gardens: Characterizing the Perceived and Actual Food Safety Concerns of Urban Agriculture in Ohio. J Food Prot 2015; 78:2070-80. [PMID: 26555531 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This study was intended to characterize the perceived risks of urban agriculture by residents of four low-income neighborhoods in which the potential exists for further urban agriculture development and to provide data to support whether any chemical hazards and foodborne pathogens as potential food safety hazards were present. Sixty-seven residents participated in focus groups related to environmental health, food security, and urban gardening. In addition, soils from six locations were tested. Residents expressed interest in the development of urban gardens to improve access to healthy, fresh produce, but they had concerns about soil quality. Soils were contaminated with lead (Pb), zinc, cadmium (Cd), and copper, but not arsenic or chromium. Results from our study suggest paint was the main source of soil contamination. Detectable polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in urban soils were well below levels of concern. These urban soils will require further management to reduce Pb and possibly Cd bioavailability to decrease the potential for uptake into food crops. Although the number of locations in this study is limited, results suggest lower levels of soil contaminants at well-established gardens. Soil tillage associated with long-term gardening could have diluted the soil metal contaminants by mixing the contaminants with clean soil. Also, lower PAH levels in long-term gardening could be due to enhanced microbial activity and PAH degradation, dilution, or both due to mixing, similar to metals. No foodborne pathogen targets were detected by PCR from any of the soils. Residents expressed the need for clearness regarding soil quality and gardening practices in their neighborhoods to consume food grown in these urban areas. Results from this study suggest long-term gardening has the potential to reduce soil contaminants and their potential threat to food quality and human health and to improve access to fresh produce in low-income urban communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Kaiser
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 North College, Stillman Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
| | - Michele L Williams
- Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Food Animal Health Research Program, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA; Department of Biology and Marine Science, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Boulevard N, Jacksonville, FL 32211, USA
| | - Nicholas Basta
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 410C Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA 6940, USA
| | - Michelle Hand
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 North College, Stillman Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Sarah Huber
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 North College, Stillman Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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Kim HS, Kim YJ, Chon JW, Kim DH, Kim KY, Seo KH. Citrobacter braakii
: A Major Cause of False-Positive Results on MacConkey and Levine's Eosin Methylene Blue Selective Agars Used for the Isolation of Escherichia Coli
from Fresh Vegetable Samples. J Food Saf 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Seok Kim
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
| | - Young-Ji Kim
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
| | - Jung-Whan Chon
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
| | - Dong-Hyeon Kim
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
| | - Kwang-Yeop Kim
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
| | - Kun-Ho Seo
- KU Center for Food Safety; College of Veterinary Medicine; Konkuk University; 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu Seoul 143-701 South Korea
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