Abstract:
Free-trade policies across countries have allowed an influx of diverse non-alcoholic drinks into Ghana. Frequent consumption of such drinks may contribute to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The study evaluated the microbial quality and physico-chemical properties of selected non-alcoholic drinks in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Out of 122 non-alcoholic drinks catalogued, 22 were analysed.
Aerobic mesophilic counts, total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), yeasts and moulds (Y&M), Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli were determined following standard procedures. The numbers of microorganisms present were calculated using the weighted mean from the dilution and expressed as colony forming unit per milliliter (cfu/ml). Total sugars and vitamin C concentrations were determined by the Anthrone method; the AOAC (1990) method was used for physico-chemical analyses. Concentrated fruit juices preserved by physical and chemical means represented the highest percentage (59%) of samples analyzed. Bacterial growth, yeasts and moulds were observed in two (33%) and only 1 (16.6%) drink samples. Bacteria, yeasts and moulds growth were found on 5 drink samples; whiles faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli were found in 2(40%) samples respectively; Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the samples tested. The highest sugar concentration was 40.71±14.38%. The highest vitamin C concentration was 0.15±0.03 ml/100ml. The highest pH was 3.602±0.86 in the carbonated soft drinks and carbonated malt category. The highest titrable acidity was 14.72±3.11 with acid percentage of 94%. Although microbial growth was not widespread in the drinks sampled, numbers were above the Ghana Standards Authority’s acceptable limits.
