ABSTRACT
The sale of soft drinks in and around primary schools is recurrent in Côte d'Ivoire. The objective of this work is to evaluate the rate of some biochemical and physicochemical parameters and the health risks related to the consumption of soft drinks. The biochemical and physicochemical parameters were determined according to the standard SOXHLET technique, that of Kjeldhal and also that described by Dubois et al in1956. Potentially pathogenic and pathogenic germs were enumerated and researched according to reference methods described by AFNOR. The moisture content of the different beverages ranged from 3.9±0.05 to 3.2±0.05, and the sugar content from 26.06±2.05 to 5.96±1.60. For the acidity, the higher value was 0.93± 0.15 (Bissap juice) and the lowest was 0.64± 0.02 (Tamarind juice). For proteins, the high value was 44.15 ± 0.11 (Milk Mint Juice) and the low value was 38.15 ± 0.11 (Ginger Juice). As for dry matter, the highest value was found in ginger juice (44.76 ±0.02) and the lowest in bissap juice (40.96 ±0.01). Soft drinks sold in Williamsville schools contain such potentially pathogenic species as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus with a wide range of loadings in the drinks. Escherichia coli was not identified. No Salmonella was observed in the different soft drinks analyzed. The presence of potentially pathogenic germs could pose a danger to school children.