Some kombucha drinkers believe the fermented tea beverage helps with everything from digestion to liver health – but people don’t generally buy it to get tipsy.
Under the wrong storage conditions, however, researchers say even kombucha that’s labelled “non-alcoholic” can become as boozy as beer or cider.
And with the fermented tea becoming more popular than ever, the B.C. Center for Disease Control is working to determine whether it could potentially pose a public health risk. The centre is having hundreds of kombucha samples tested for ethanol levels using drinks found at grocery stores, farmers markets and other retailers.
