“loosely attached” microorganisms
to olive skin. Then the olives of each sample were removed,
drained in Laminar air flow cabinet, pitted under sterile conditions
and 20 g of the pulp transferred to a sterile bag containing 180 ml of
sterile diluent containing NaCl (8.5 g/l) and Tween 80 (1ml/l). Themixture
was homogenized for 60 s using a Stomacher Lab-Blender 400
(SewardMedical, London, UK).Microorganisms remaining after rinsing
were considered to be “strongly attached” microorganisms in olives and
enumerated as CFU/g.