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Relationship between Viable Bacterial Counts and Physicochemical Properties of Cocoa Powders and Powdered Cocoa Beverages purchased in Nigerian Supermarkets

OLUGBUYIRO, J.A.O and OLUWADUN, AFOLABI (2011) Relationship between Viable Bacterial Counts and Physicochemical Properties of Cocoa Powders and Powdered Cocoa Beverages purchased in Nigerian Supermarkets. Researcher, 3 (3). pp. 46-52. ISSN 1553-9865

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Abstract

Cocoa powders (CPs) and powdered cocoa beverages (PCBs) are largely consumed as health and vitality drinks in Nigeria. In view of the recent reports that these food products supported bacterial growth, this study determined whether there could be definite relationship between viable bacterial counts and physicochemical properties of five brands of CPs and PCBs purchased from supermarkets in Ibadan and Lagos in South West, Nigeria. The pH and titratable acidity of the products were measured by using pH meter and colorimetric acidity titration respectively. The moisture contents were determined by drying method at 105ºC in oven and ash by mineralization at 550ºC using furnace. No definite type of relationship was established between viable bacterial counts and pH, titratable acidity (lactic acid, acetic acid), moisture and ash contents vis-à-vis powdery and granular natures of the cocoa food products. Only the two PCBs tightly packed in the polythene sachets had acceptable mean viable bacterial counts, which did not exceed 5.0 x 103 cfu/ml specified for cocoa powders in food industries. Also, only two of the five brands had acceptable moisture contents, which did not exceed the national specification of 3.10% for cocoa powders. Furthermore, the ash contents of all the brands exceeded the acceptable national specification of 2.60%. Significant variations (P<0.05) were obtained in the mean pH, titratable acidity, viable bacterial counts, moisture and ash contents within and between products containing only cocoa powders and those containing additives. In conclusion, the results from this study showed that the physicochemical properties of cocoa powders and powdered cocoa beverages could not be used to predict the viable bacterial counts of these food products. Key words: Cocoa Powders, Powdered Cocoa Beverages, Physicochemical Properties, Viable Bacterial Counts.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cocoa Powders, Powdered Cocoa Beverages, Physicochemical Properties, Viable Bacterial Counts,Olugbuyiro et al.
Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Chemistry
Depositing User: MR JOSEPH OLUGBUYIRO
Date Deposited: 31 Aug 2011 14:50
Last Modified: 13 Dec 2011 21:14
URI: http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/508

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