Identification of phenol red as Staphylococcus aureus indicator Label

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is one microorganism which caused food-borne disease. This bacteria contamination is very easy due to it exists in air, dust and contaminated equipment. Food contamination can occur during or after handling process such as on meat products, chicken, milk, fermented food items, vegetables, fish products and etc. The bacteria can cause food poisoning, so it is necessary to detect the growth of this bacteria in the food and food product before it is consumed. Staphylococcus aureus on food products can be detected using label indicator by the label color changing. The label was attached inside the food package. Many potential media can be used as label material. One of them is mannitol salt agar (MSA). MSA can give' information Staphylococcus aureus growth on product by color changing from red to orange and yellow. This changing is irreversible. The color changing occur due to volatile acid and mannitol fermentation on MSA by Staphylococcus aureus result on pH reducing of the media, and then, once it will change phenol red color containing in MSA turn to orange and then yellow. The objective of research was to identify MSA media as Staphylococcus aureus detection label. The examination was conducted on petri dish approximately 2 cm from Staphylococcus aurells culture. The capability of label on detection Staphylococcus aureus growth was starting from 516 per gram of colony. The color change from red (R (red) 55, G (Green) 44 dan B (Blue) 41) to orange (R (red) 47, G (Green) 38 dan B (Blue) 34).