1.1 Introduction
Soft drinks were defined by Harry and Wilbert (1984) as a class of non alcoholic beverages which may be divided into two classes carbondrate soft drinks some time referred to as Soda ;'soda pop “etc) and still or non- carbondrate soft drinks. soft drinks in general contains 86 to 92% water, 7 to 10% nutrient sweetbriers, carbodioxide (if present) acid and flavoring. The food and drug administration standard of identity for carbonated soft drink define them as a class of beverage made by absorbing carbodiocide in potable water.
The amount of carbonhdioxide used is not less than that which well be absorbed by the beverage at a pressure of one atmosphere and a temperature of 60F. these drinks contain no alcohol, or only such alcohol (not in excess of 0.5% by weight of the finished beverage) as is contributed by the flavoring ingredient that may be use in carbonated soft drinks in such properties are reasonable required to accomplish their intruded effects. These include nutritive sweeteners flavoring ingredient natural and antificial colour additive acidifying agent buffering agent emulsifying stabilizing or viscosity producing agent foaming agent caffeine and chemical preservatives the beginning of the carbonated beverage (soft) drinks) as recorded by Resrosier (1977) date back to the closing years of the eighteen (18th) century.
Morris (1959) defined micro organisms as plant or animal organisms of microscopic or submicroscopic dimensions. Plant microorganisms are generally classified into three major groups, namely fungi bacteria and Algae as for as beverage manfacture is concerned the fungi are the most important group of spoilage organisms because yeast and mould belong to this group. The protozoa are the most important of the animal microorganisms.
Actually individual microorganisms are microscopic in size they can form colonies clouds precipitates sediments and scums with time and these are visible to the naked eyes and are the direct signs of the presence of microorganisms.
The microbiological safety and ratability of the diverse type of soft drinks products depend on their formulation (including) the use of chemical preservative carbonation low PH values and pasteurization) this was stated by ganglion (1982). Batchelor (1985) put it that the inter related environmental factors that determine the microbial load of product or the susceptibility of a product to microbial spoilage are intrinsic and Extrinsic factors.
Intrinsic factor are derived from the product and its formulation according to pauezai comments they are not easy to change Extrinsic factor are variable introduced during processing packaging distribution and storage. They should be easier to change and control. Girighano further recorded that control should be by application of the air Hazard Analysis critical Control point (HACCP) system to raw material formulating processing condition and packaging examples of such control would be:
- Measurement of temperature during heat treatment of pasteurized product
- Measurement of carbonation level by routine monvtorning of carbendioxide pressures in carbonated products
- Measurement of pH water activity product viscosity and preservatives in combination with other formulation parameters
- Maintenance of good hygienic practice to prevent the building up of spoilage organisms on the plant equipment and in the production areas.
Most microbiological problem arise because of poor quality of raw material (eg fruit concentrates sugar and syrup) poor processing hygiene packaging material and storage condition and these lead to over coming of the preservation system applied drinking manufactures or production of the beverages (soft drinks) by the micro organisms.
1.1 Justification
Soft drink are consumed in large quantities by the massed both male and female cutting across different age group adult and children of different classes of people all oven the state. This is aided by the general availability of these drinks almost every place where people gather for work or recreational activities so it is necessary to let the people taking this soft drinks know the consequences of leaving their drink open there by allowing some microorganisms which grow in the presence of air (acropea or acrophile organisms) to gain their way into the drink. Also for then to know the implicated organism in the soft drink thereby helping them to reduce their soft drink intake.
1.2 Aim and Objectives
Aim and objective of this project is to investigation the microbial content of bottled soft drinks by:
- Isolating the microorganisms present in them
- Identify and characterize the microorganisms present
1.3 Hypotheses
H0 Yeast and would are the only organisms implicated and identified in the microbiological charateristion of the three brand of soft drinks.
H1 Yeast and mould are the only organisms implicated and identified in the microbiological characterization of the three brand of soft drink, bacteria were also implicated and identified.
1.4 Limitation of Study
This study was limited to Enugu metropolis and three leading and most consumed soft drink this was due to economic and transportation difficulties encountered in the course of the study.
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