Evaluation of quality index of salted Korean cabbage in the short-term distribution system

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide the quality index of salted Korean cabbage in a short-term distribution system. Salted Korean cabbages were packaged with or without 2% salt water, and then distributed in a conventional system (CVS) and a cold-chain system (CCS) for 6 h. The material temperature of samples with and without salt water gradually increased to 19.57°C and 19.43°C in a CVS, respectively and to 10.73°C and 12.90°C in a CCS, respectively. Salinity of the materials in a CCS did not change, whereas salinities of the materials in a CVS were 1.2 and 1.7 fold higher, respectively. Also, a slight increase in acidity was observed in both packaging materials in a CCS. In the case of a CVS, total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria increased to 7.62 log CFU/g and 6.77 log CFU/g in the materials with salt water, respectively, whereas the number of total aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria ranged between 5.62-5.85 log CFU/g and 4.33-4.83 log CFU/g in the materials without salt water, respectively. However, significant microbial changes were not observed in a CCS as distribution time increased. CCS with salt water packaging was effective in achieving microbial control and maintaining physicochemical quality. Salinity, aerobic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria can be useful as quality indices for a CVS, and acidity can be useful as quality index for a CCS.