The reduction of nitrate/nitrite content increased TVC in aerobically packaged samples. These differences were observed after 4 days of stoage, when batches MN and HN exhibited approximately 1.5 log cfu/glower counts (P b 0.05) in comparison to control samples (Table 1). Batch LN showed around 0.5 log cfu/g difference. The behavior of psychrotrophic bacteria was similar to that of TVC (data not shown).