The internal surface sections of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles of the same make used for storage of yeast fermented palm wine or still water were compared in order to determine if the palm wine drink caused any corrosion or distortion to the plastic surface. Surfaces of triplicate sections from different parts of both plastic bottles were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The yeasts that attached on the palm wine bottle were identified by performing restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the ITS1-5.8SrDNA-ITS2 genes using HaeIII restriction endonuclease. Viable yeast species of Candida ethanolica and Saccharomyces cerevisiae remained attached on plastic bottle internal surface for up to three weeks after the contents were discarded. No pitting or gradual destruction of the plastic surface was observed and the constituent elements of the PET bottles, carbon and oxygen were detected from both samples whereas only the palm wine bottle showed the element potassium and chlorine. The source of chlorine, the major component of polyvinyl chloride plastic found in the bottle used for palm wine storage will need to be verified in the palm wine supply chain.
