경남지역에서 유통되는 즉석 반찬류의 미생물 오염도 조사

• Published in: Han'gug sigpum wi'saeng anjeonseong haghoeji Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 217 - 227
• Main Authors: 엄지연, 장혜정, 최연주, 김소영, 조아름, 김민영, 안지희, 김제동, Ji-Yeon Um, Hye-Jeong Jang, Yeon-Ju Choi, So-Young Kim, Areum Jo, Min Young Kim, Jihee Ahn, Jea-Dong Kim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국식품위생안전성학회 01.09.2023
• Subjects: 식품과학; Food-borne pathogens; Ready-to-eat side dishes; Microbiological contamination; Gyeongsangnam-do; Total aerobic bacteria
• ISSN: 1229-1153; 2465-9223

The consumption of ready-to-eat side dishes is rapidly growing in South Korea. These foods are particularly vulnerable to microbiological contamination as they are often cooked without any treatment, such as heating or stored at room temperature after cooking. Hence, in 2022, we analyzed the ready-to-eat side dishes sold in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea for microbiological contamination. We collected 100 samples from supermarkets in 7 cities, and then examined them for presence of food-borne pathogens and sanitary indicator bacteria. In the analysis of the food-borne pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 51 samples (51.0%) and 3 samples (3.0%), respectively. However, both quantitatively met the Korean Food Standards Codex. Genes of five different enterotoxins and one emetic toxin were analyzed from the 51 isolated B. cereus strains. We detected enterotoxin entFM (100.0%), nheA (94.1%), hblC (58.8%), cytK (56.9%), and bceT (41.2%) in 51 isolates, and emetic toxin gene, CER, in only one (2.0%) isolate. We did not detect C. perfringens toxin gene (cpe) that causes food poisoning in any one of the three C. perfringens isolates. In the case of sanitary indicator bacteria, Kimchi had the highest levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, followed by Saengchae, Jeotgal, Jeolim, Namul, and Jorim, respectively. We counted total aerobic bacteria at two different storage temperatures (4oC and 20oC) to determine the effect of storage temperature. When stored at 20oC, total aerobic bacteria count increased in most of the ready-to-eat side dishes, except for Jeotgal. This result conclusively shows the need for refrigerating the ready-to-eat side dishes after purchase. Further research is needed to assess the risk and safety of the ready-to-eat side dishes available in the market and determine appropriate safety management practices.