Preliminary Investigation of the Possible Pathogenic Bacterial Contents of Some Local Non-Alcoholic Drinks

The aim of this study was to determine the safety profiles of some local non-alcoholic drinks sold within Zaria locality by isolating and characterizing the possible pathogenic bacteria found in them. For this aim, 17 samples of Zobo drink, 19 samples of Kunu zaki drink, and 15 samples of Ginger drink were analysed. Among the 51 total samples, Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from one Ginger drink sample; Serratia marcescens was 

isolated from two Zobo drink samples and two Ginger drink samples. Non-pathogenic bacteria like Bacillus species were isolated from two Zobo drink samples and Corynebacterium species were isolated from three Kunu zaki drink samples, two Ginger drink samples and one Zobo drink sample. The presence of yeast was noticed in all the samples analysed. The results of this investigation did not reveal the potentiality of these drinks as serious health hazards, especially with regard to gastrointestinal infections. However, more detail studies should be carried out to validate these preliminary findings.