Maintaining the Quality of Fishery Products, Aruna Implements Hygiene and Sanitation in Production.

Fishery products are an important source of animal protein for the Indonesian population. However, the quality of fishery products can deteriorate if not properly maintained. To ensure that fishery products remain safe and healthy for consumption, one of the methods that can be implemented is to maintain good hygiene and sanitation during the production process.

We will discuss hygiene and sanitation in the fishery industry and the steps taken by Aruna, a fishery company that consistently provides safe and hygienic products.

Hygiene and Sanitation in the Fishery Industry

Hygiene and sanitation aim to maintain the cleanliness and safety of products by preventing contamination by microorganisms and harmful animals. Contamination can lead to various health problems, such as food poisoning and digestive infections. Therefore, fishery business operators must implement good hygiene and sanitation practices in the production process.

Hygiene and sanitation standards for processing fishery products are set by the government through the Minister of Marine and Fisheries Decree No. 52A/KEPMEN-KP/2013 concerning Quality Assurance and Safety Requirements for Fishery Product Production, Processing, and Distribution Processes. These standards require workers handling fishery products to implement good hygiene and sanitation in the workplace.

Benefits of Hygiene and Sanitation in the Fishery Industry

The implementation of good hygiene and sanitation can provide benefits to fishery products, including:

• Improving the quality, safety, and health of fishery products.
• Enhancing the competitiveness of fishery products.
• Building consumer trust.

Hygiene and sanitation also benefit workers and the environment. Good hygiene and sanitation practices can prevent the spread of diseases and environmental pollution. This makes the working environment comfortable, clean, and healthy.

Implementation of Hygiene and Sanitation by Aruna

Aruna is committed to implementing good hygiene and sanitation in its production processes. To achieve this, Aruna provides hygiene and sanitation training to Aruna Pickers, who are members of the coastal community working to process fishery commodities. This training is provided by Aruna’s Quality Control (QC) team.

While working, Aruna Pickers are required to wear appropriate work attire following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), including aprons, hairnets, masks, gloves, and waterproof shoes. The use of cosmetics and jewelry is not allowed. Additionally, Aruna Pickers receive education on how to maintain the cooling chain to minimize temperature fluctuations.

Diana Kartika Pramodhawardhani, a Young Expert in Capture Fisheries Production Management, hopes that coastal communities can continue to help maintain the quality of the fishermen’s catch. This is what allows Aruna to produce high-quality fishery products with quality assurance.

Hygiene and sanitation are crucial factors in maintaining the quality of fishery products. The good practices of hygiene and sanitation implemented by Aruna not only benefit fishery products but also the coastal community and the environment.

As consumers, we can also support the quality of fishery products, the welfare of coastal communities, and ocean sustainability by choosing products from companies that implement good hygiene and sanitation practices. With these small steps, we can create a better future for the Indonesian fishery industry.