ABSTRACT

Microbiological analysis of some selected homemade drinks sold in Umudike was done. Four (4) popular homemade drinks, zobo, kunu, orange and pineapple drinks were used.10 ramdonly selected drinks of each type were collected in each of three market study area including Ahiaeke, Ndoro and Umudike and analyzed accordingly. Results show that the average bacteria load of the drinks were 1.78x105cfu/mL(zobo), 1.98x105cfu/ml(kunu), 1.82x105cfu/mL(orange drinks) and 1.63x105cfu/mL(pineapple). The ranges were 1.57x105cfu/ml to1.94x105cfu/ml in zobo, 1.73x105cfu/ml to 2.36x105cfu/mL for kunu, 1.73x105cfu/ml to 1.92x105cfu/ml for orange and 1.43x105cfu/ml for pineapple drink. The bacteria flora show deviate species with varying levels of occurrences including Lactobacillus (33.3), Salmonella (6.7), Staphylococcus (17.7), Pseudomonas (33.3), E. coli (16.7), Streptococcus (17.7) and Bacillus (46.7)for zobo. Lactobacillus (56.6), Salmonella (23.3), Staphylococcus (93.3) Pseudomonas (33.3), E. coli (30.0), Streptococcus (46.6) and Bacillus (53.3) for kunu. Lactobacillus (33.3), Salmonella (3.33), Staphylococcus (86.6) Pseudomonas (26.6), E. coli (3.30), Streptococcus (46.6) and Bacillus (30) for orange and Lactobacillus (23.3), Salmonella (0.00), Staphylococcus (66.6), Pseudomonas (30), E. coli (0.00), Streptococcus (0.67) and Bacillus (23.3) for pineapple .The fungi load was an average of 3.44 x103cfu/ml in zobo been in the range of 3.33x103cfu/ml to 3.67x102cfu/ml. The figure for kunu was in the range of 7.67x103cfu/ml to 1.01x104cfu/ml. Orange drinks were between 2.67x102cfu/ml and 3.33x102cfu/ml while pineapple drink had between 5.67x102cfu/ml and 8.33x102cfu/ml. The fungi isolate include yeast (55.83%), Aspergillus (23.32%), Penicillum (17.48%), and Rhizopus (14.99%).it was observed that the microbiological quality of the home made drinks sold in Umudike was poor as all had microbial load above the maximum permissible load reputation.