Evaluation of Microbial Contents of Bottled Zobob Beverages Sold in Port Harcourt Metropolis

This study investigated the microbial contents of bottled Zobo drinks in Port Harcourt Metropolis. A total of 3 samples were collected from mile 1 market, “Big Tree” and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt main gate. Each sample was carefully stored in a cooler with ice packs to prevent any change in microbial quality during transportation to the Biology laboratory, for microbial analysis, to assess the microbial and fungal quality of bottled Zobo drink, using nutrient agar culture medium, a sterile sampling technique was employed to collect drink samples. Using a sterile pipette, drops of the diluted samples were spread onto nutrient agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 to 168 hours to allow microbial and fungal growth. The results of heterotrophic bacteria on nutrient agar media showed a mean count range of 1.32 x 106 to 4.56 x 106 cfu/lm in the Zobo drink, while heterotrophic fungal mean count range of 2.4 x 105 cfu/ml to 3.5 x 105 cfu/ml. The study recovered seven bacteria genera namely: Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus lactis Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp. Lactobacillus sp. and Bacillus sp. had an occurrence of 25% each, Staphylococcus sp. had 18% while Streptococcus lactic, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella sp. had 8% occurrence respectively in the Zobo drink. Four fungi species were recovered, namely: Aspergillus niger, Candida sp., Saccharomyces sp. and Rhizopus stolonifera. The study identified a high prevalence of microbes in Zobo drinks sold in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Hence, it recommends that consumers and retailers of Zobo drink should be vigilant and observant of the source of products and producers to maintain absolute cleanliness.