Microbial counts were converted to log CFU/g for their statistical
analysis. Pathogen positive results (i.e., presence in 25 g but below the
quantification limit) were recorded as 0 log CFU/g, whereas negative results
(i.e., absence in 25 g) were computed as −1.4 log CFU/g (Hereu
et al., 2012). Data were analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA),
followed by Tukey's test at the 0.05 level of significance using the SAS
statistical package (SAS Enterprise Guide 4.2, SAS Inst., Cary, N.C.,
U.S.A.)