the predominance of lab in fermented foods is commmon due to their ability to tolerate low pH levels This tolerance along with the propensity of lactic acid bacteria to produce a variety of antimicrobial substances creates unfavorable conditions for the growth of pathogens as well as toxigenic and spoilage organisms the presence of lab in the cotton seed and rice beverage studied here might play a role in the reduced survival of bacterial pathogens despite the rudimentary preparation process There was a predominance of the Lactobacillus species at the end of the end of the fermentation process whereas lactococcus leuconstoc and enterococcus species were observed at the beginning of fermentation These genera are typically associated with cereal kernels and flour but they do not survive long term acidification processes Isolates belonging to the L.plantarum group are more acid tolerant and often dominate the fermentation processes of vegetables and cereals mainly because of their ability to transport and metabolize different plant carbohydrates