LAB (Fig. 1c) as facultative anaerobic species was found to be member of the microbial flora of the chicken meat . Initial population of LAB was 4.87 and increased to 8.62 log CFU/g on final day of storage. However, significantly lower
LAB counts (P b 0.05)were recorded for PJ, PJ–CH and PJ–CH–Z samples stored during the entire storage period under refrigeration. Of all the antimicrobial treatments in this study, PJ–CH and PJ–CH–Z 1 and 2% treatments were found to be the most effective in inhibiting growth of LAB inmeat samples, almost resulting in a 1.5 log cycle decrease during
the storage period, probably attributed to the combined antimicrobial action of PJ, chitosan and ZEO. In one study, the combined use of rosemary essential oil and chitosan on fresh pork sausages resulted in a 2.0 log CFU/g reduction of the final population of LAB.