This Community Service Program (KKN) introduces an innovation to improve milk quality through the introduction of pasteurization methods to the people of Medowo Village, Kandangan District, Kediri Regency, East Java. Medowo Village, located in the northeastern tip of Kediri Regency, borders Wonosalam in Jombang Regency to the north and Malang Regency to the south. It is known for its cool climate, being situated on the slopes of Mount Anjasmoro. The village consists of five hamlets: Sidomulyo, Medowo, Sidorejo, Mulyorejo, and Ringinagung.
With a dairy cattle population of 10,917 as of 2022 and nine milk cooperatives registered with the East Java Animal Husbandry Department, milk has become the main commodity produced by the people of Medowo Village. Milk, as a highly nutritious animal product, plays a vital role in meeting the nutritional needs of the community. The nutritional content of milk includes 66 kcal of calories, 3.2 grams of protein, 3.7 grams of fat, 4.6 grams of lactose, 0.1 milligrams of iron, 120 milligrams of calcium, and 100 IU of vitamin A.
However, the high protein content in milk makes it susceptible to contamination by microorganisms, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic. Pathogenic microorganism contamination can make milk a source of disease, while non-pathogenic contamination can degrade the physical quality of milk, such as causing a rancid smell or changes in color and taste. Therefore, proper handling is necessary to maintain milk quality.
One effective method to preserve milk quality is the pasteurization process. According to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 01-3951-1995, pasteurized milk is milk that has undergone a heating process at a minimum temperature of 72°C for 15 seconds or 63-66°C for 30 minutes, then cooled to a maximum temperature of 4.4°C and handled aseptically. This process kills most pathogenic microorganisms, although spores of pathogenic microorganisms may not be entirely eliminated.
The KKN activity conducted in Medowo Village by five students, under the supervision of Drh. Gretania Residiwati, M. Si., Ph.D., aims to provide outreach and training on pasteurization methods to the local community, most of whom are dairy farmers. With the knowledge provided, it is hoped that the community will be able to process and store fresh milk more effectively, thus improving milk quality and extending its shelf life.
Through this outreach, the people of Medowo Village are expected to apply pasteurization methods in their daily lives, ultimately improving the quality and competitiveness of the milk they produce. This initiative is expected to provide long-term benefits to the people of Medowo Village by maintaining their health and well-being through the consumption of high-quality milk.
Author: Abigail Paramuthia Permadi
Editor : PSIK FKH UB
