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