In a groundbreaking achievement, Arif Maulana, a 12th-grade student at FIWA, has successfully conducted a scientific research project in the field of Biology aimed at preventing foodborne diseases.
Foodborne diseases, illnesses caused by consuming contaminated food, pose a significant global health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year, unsafe food results in 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths. Shockingly, 30% of these deaths affect children under the age of 5. It's estimated that 33 million years of healthy lives are lost annually due to unsafe food consumption worldwide, a figure likely underestimated.
Arif's innovative approach to address this issue involved combining science with a popular culinary beverage among millennials – Tea Blend. Leveraging his knowledge of biology and tea blending skills, Arif crafted a unique blend comprising green tea, lime, butterfly pea flowers, lemongrass, peppermint, dragon fruit peel, and cinnamon. This blend not only exhibited a delightful taste but also showcased promising antibacterial properties crucial for combating foodborne diseases.
The primary research objectives included investigating the antibacterial activity of each ingredient against the growth of Escherichia coli, determining the optimal tea blend concentration to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and analyzing the phytochemical composition of the blend with the highest antibacterial activity. The top three tea blend formulas underwent organoleptic evaluation, assessing color, aroma, and taste to determine the most effective, flavorful, and preferred blend.
The results were astonishing, revealing antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli in all test ingredients. Arif's tea blend formulation exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, supported by phytochemical analysis of the most preferred blend based on organoleptic tests.
Arif's research holds the potential to serve as an accessible and effective alternative for preventing foodborne diseases, contributing to the well-being of people in Indonesia and beyond. It's crucial to note that this research was conducted under strict supervision, adhering to laboratory safety procedures. Arif underwent extensive training in laboratory equipment usage, materials' characteristics, and safety procedures before undertaking this groundbreaking research.
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