3.2.3. Microbial assessment
The wrapped half carcasses had higher TVC and total counts of Enterobacteriaceae (P b 0.05). Conversely, the unwrapped half carcasses had lower TVC and total counts of S. aureus (P b 0.05) between before
and after 24 h of chilling. The TVC and total counts of Enterobacteriaceae and S. aureus at the end of the 24 h chilling period were greater in the wrapped half carcasses. No significant differences (P N 0.05) were
observed for E. coli in the total counts (Table 3). Higher bacterial counts in the carcasses that were wrapped in PVC film during chilling were reported for psychrotrophic bacteria in beef (Rea et al., 1972) and lamb (Smith et al., 1976) carcasses and for the TVC in lamb carcasses (Lazarus et al., 1976).