KALAMITea – Kombucha Alcohol Levels Affecting Mothers, Infants and Toddlers

Sung Sik Jang Kombucha is a popular fermented beverage made from sweetened black tea and culture. During fermentation bacteria and yeast will convert sugars into a vinegar-based carbonated beverage. However, if fermentation is incomplete or continues after bottling ethanol may form. Non-alcoholic beverages sold in BC should have alcohol by volume (ABV) levels at or below 1%. We conducted a survey of kombucha teas in BC this summer to evaluate if ABV, excess acids (pH below 2.5) or E. coli were issues in these beverages. We partnered with BCIT researchers who detected ethanol using validated head space GC-MS methods. Results demonstrated specific brands of kombucha tea had ABV1%; the highest ethanol level (3.4%) to date was found in a mango flavored bottled kombucha tea purchased in a retail store in central Vancouver.

BC CDC Presenters

10/24/2019 6:35:00 PM