1. Microbial Contaminants in Cocoa Powder Samples in South – West Nigeria

Cocoa powder (CP), which is the major ingredient of cocoa-based beverages, is obtained from cocoa cake in a process involving hydraulic pressing of cocoa butter from fermented and roasted cocoa beans. Cocoa powder is presently being consumed as a health drink because of the presence of flavonoids in it. Evidences have shown that cocoa flavonoids exert powerful antioxidant properties by boosting immune responses and also the presence of procyanidins in cocoa protects the body against free-radical.... A.A. Oluwadun, O.0. Olubamiwa, O.C. Jayeola