Chitosan Added as an Antimicrobial in Edible Film and Its Application to The Dodol of Seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii L.)

Abstract

Eucheuma cottonii L. seaweed contains dietary fiber that can cure some degenerative diseases. Dodol seaweed without preservatives can be an alternative as a functional food that many people need to maintain their health. Generally dodol made with the addition of preservatives to enhance the shelf life. Dodol without preservative makes its easily microbes growth and oxidized, thus making it quickly damaged and not accepted by consumers. The use of active edible film on dodol seaweed is expected to inhibit damage and prolong the shelf life. Chitosan is one of the recommended hydrophobic biopolymers to improve the film characteristics based starch while having antimicrobial activity. The purpose of this research is to know the effect of chitosan concentration on character of edible film, and the effect of its application on weight loss, texture and microbial quantity on dodol seaweed in the storage period. The research results showed that the addition of chitosan can increase tensile and transparency, and decrease of elongation and WVTR edible film. Active edible film application has been shown to inhibit the damage of dodol seaweed during the storage period compared without active edible film and inhibiting microbial growth.