Nutritional content of malt drinks sold on the Ghanaian market

Abstract

Five different brands of malt drink sold on the Ghanaian market (Malta Guinness, Rasta malt, Vicco malt, Beta malt and Super malt) were analyzed for pH, conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, protein, carbohydrate and minerals. All the malt drinks were quite acidic with pH ranging from 4.2 to 4.9. Malta Guinness recorded the highest conductivity of 1526.50 + 2.2 mS/cm and a TDS of 11.52 + 0.01 mg while Super malt recorded the lowest conductivity of 671.50 + 2.2 and 0.55 + 0.05. The protein content ranged between 0.175 g/L for Rasta Malt and 1.250 g/L for Malta Guinness. Comparing the carbohydrate content obtained in the malt drinks that ranged from 26.26 -36.29 g/L with the recommended daily intake of carbohydrate is 130 g/day, the carbohydrate content was found to be low. The order of concentration is Malta Guinness >Vicco malt > Super malt > Rasta Malt > Beta malt. Similarly, the levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in the malt drinks were found to be generally low