What Are You Drinking, TEA? Tira J. Robinson Junior Microbiology Major Tennessee Tech University

Table of Contents  Title  Keywords  Project summary  Introduction/Background  Methods & Materials  Results  Project Timeline  Literature Cited  Budget

Keywords  Tea  Bacteria  Food poisoning  Microbes  Bacteria in liquid  E-coli  Health

*Project Summary To see what type of bacteria and e-coli grows in different teas To see how many coliforms grow from tea samples Take several different tea samples and run tests Take a count of how many coliforms were present at the end of the experiment. Give data and charts on results

Introduction/Background My hypothesis is that tea at certain temp. levels will cause dangerously high levels of bacteria. So tests are going to be performed to see what types of bacteria grows in tea “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which investigated the reports about iced tea, explained that theoretically tea could transmit disease if other bacteria survived the brewing -- a possibility with some organisms--and if they were allowed to grow in unrefrigerated tea” (Iced 1996).

Methods & Materials Streak different tea samples on agar plates Coliform count Majority of America drinks tea. To better America as a whole tea samples will be taken to see what is really in tea Data will be recorded in tables and graphs This experiment will be administered by Dr. Goss and myself

Results I expect to find several different micro organisms that are in tea. The reason for this is because tea is exposed to heat for long periods of time. I expect to find several different fascinating organisms The benefits of this experiment will better the knowledge of tea and its content.

Project Timeline Start date March 14, 2005 *Obtain several tea samples from 5 different restaurants *Set up several tests( MAC, BAP,TSA, or coliform) *Take the different results *Do graphs and numbers *Etc. End date March 25, 2005

Literature Cited Doyle, Michael. Food Technology. Fecal conditions in tea: what’s the problem. Oct v50 n10 p104(1) Environmental Nutrition. Iced tea scare a tempest in a teapot. June 1996 v19 n6 p8(1)

Budget The proposed budget for this experiment will be tea (estimated budget $5.00). All other expenses will be covered by Dr. Goss