
Street vendors sell ice and local beverages popular in Multan, Pakistan; however, their safety is questionable due to poor handling and environmental conditions. The study evaluated the physicochemical, microbial, and chemical safety of street-vended ice and various local beverages. Findings indicated that physicochemical examination of ice samples showed a pH ranging from 6.46 to 7.06, turbidity ranging from 0.354 to 1.660 N.T.U., and total dissolved solids ranging from 664.92 to 1594.5 ppm. Whereas local beverages had pH values ranging from 2.62 to 6.51, moisture ranging from 46.146 to 96.900 %, and ash ranging from 0.162 to 0.950, respectively. Microbial contamination, as demonstrated by total plate count analysis of ice samples, indicates microbial loads of 286-1165 cfu/ml, while local beverages range from 53-447 cfu/ml. Total coliform count analysis of ice samples shows coliform contamination of 20 to 39 cfu/ml, while local beverages range from 10 to 57 cfu/ml, and Escherichia coli analysis of ice samples shows fecal contamination of 4 to 20 cfu/ml, and that of local beverages ranging from 7 to 29 cfu/ml. The chemical analysis with results of heavy metal concentrations revealed lead ranges in ice samples 0.634 to 0.862 ppm while local beverages ranging 0.248 to 0.746 ppm, chromium ranges in ice samples 0.446 to 0.660 ppm while local beverages ranging 0.070 to 0.530 ppm, arsenic ranges in ice samples 0.348 to 0.570 ppm while local beverages ranging 0.015 to 0.446 ppm and cadmium ranges in ice samples 0.152 to 0.364 ppm whereas local beverages ranging 0.040 to 0.368 ppm. These findings indicate that physicochemical parameters, microbial and chemical contamination pose a significant health risk; hence, there is a need to enhance vendor hygiene, enforce regulations, and raise public awareness to ensure a safer product in street vending.
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