Does Fermentation Enhance Beverage Safety? Kombucha's Resistance to Microbial Invasion Suggests a Protective Role
Gissel Marquez Alcaraz, Shrinath Narayanan, Joe Alcock, Jessica D. Ayers, Cristina Baciu, Hanna L. Berman, Robert R. Dunn, Angelo Fortunato, Alexander May, Carlo C. Maley, Jessica Siegel, Bryan Yavari, Athena Aktipis
This study compares microbial growth in kombucha and sweet tea after introducing human hand swabs, finding kombucha resists microbial invasion better due to its SCOBY and fermentation byproducts.
bioRxiv · Dec 24, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology