Studies on some microorganisms associated with exposed tigernut (Cyperus esculentus L.) milk

Abstract

Samples of tigernut milk were extracted from tubers of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus). The microorganisms isolated from the exposed samples included Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium solani, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. fubiligera and Candida pseudotropicalis. The microbial isolated had the following percentage frequencies of occurrence, respectively: 13.04, 17.39, 4.35, 13.04, 13.04, 21.74, 13.04 and 4.35%. These microorganisms rendered the tigernut milk unpalatable and unsafe for consumption by the production of toxic metabolites. The unexposed samples had relatively lower load of microorganisms. The difference between the pH values of the exposed and unexposed milk was significant. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.