Development and Implementation of Good Jamu Gendong Production Practice to Improve Its Microbiological Quality and Safety

Abstract

Jamu gendong is a traditional Indonesian herbal beverage that can be considered as functional beverages because of their flavonoid content and essential oils from its herbs and spices. Although they are believed to help maintain good health, they are often considered low in quality and safety. This study aims to assess the microbiological quality of jamu gendong from two jamu gendong producers in Bogor using parameters such as microbiological quality of utensils, workers, processing and product to be used in developing a Good Jamu Gendong Production Practice (GJGPP) guideline for a home industry scale and implement it to those jamu gendong producers. This study consist of evaluation of production steps through observation, development of GJGPP guidelines by taking into considerations of Good Food Production Practice for home industry issued by The Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control, implement the GJGPP guideline and evaluation of microbiological quality (Total Plate Count, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus sp. analysis) of the investigated products (beras kencur and temulawak extract), utensils (bottles) and environment (air sanitation) before and after implementation. The results obtained from this study showed that the number of microorganism in beras kencur and temulawak extract exceeded the maximum recommended standards and that its production did not meet the standard requirements for good production practices. Almost all standard of good production practices was violated. Factors influencing the high microbial content include : poor production practices (poor rhizome sortation and washing) , lack of hygienic practices during processing, no standardized processing procedures and no written standardized formula for both temulawak and beras kencur extract. and are also supported by the characteristic of the product that has a high pH, availability of nutrients, water activity and temperature (processing and storage), but also was inhibited by antimicrobial content. After implementation of the GJGPP, investigated samples show a decrease in microbial load. Product microbial load succeed to decrease near enough the maximum recommended standards and are negative in Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus sp. Results on air sanitation before and after implementation showed a slight decrease, therefore environmental hygiene practices was not as critical as personnel hygiene. Application of good production practices in jamu gendong production has improved jamu gendong microbiological quality and safety