Organic Contaminants and Microbial Load of Native Beers Locally Prepared Within Jos Metropolis

Introduction: Ethyl alcohol toxicity is implicated in impaired immune system, disease conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer. The incidence of these ailments among drinkers of native beers: burukutu, pito, and goskolo in the area of study are high. Goskolo is banned lethal liquor secretly consumed by native beer drinkers.

Aim: This work was performed to ascertain the presence of some organic contaminants in native beers.

Study Design: The work is descriptive in nature.

Place and Duration of Study: Samples were obtained from vendors in Jos metropolis of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria from June 2015 to August 2015.

Materials and Methods: Thin layer chromatography (TLC), culture media, Gram staining, catalase and biochemical tests were applied to achieve the aim of the work.

Results: Results indicated the presence of not only ethyl alcohol but of ethanal, Streptococci, Candida krusei, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida tropicalis and Lactobacilli in burukutu and pito samples. No microbial growth was observed for the control. There were no spots on TLC plates for goskolo. There were other spots on the TLC plates for burukutu and pito samples which did not match the RF values of ethanol, acetate and ethanal standards implying the presence of other contaminants in the samples. Candida and Streptococci species are pathogenic, ethanal is toxic, and presence of other spots on TLC plates could be for other toxicants in the samples.

Conclusion: Contaminants in the native beer samples may contribute significantly to the observed complications of disease conditions associated with chronic consumption of native beers.