inulin (CTSI) agar medium (37). The media were used for specific
target microbial populations as previously described (12); all of the
media were from Oxoid. Results were calculated as the means of
log counts for three independent measurements.
At each time of sampling, beef color was measured 30 min
after the packages were opened to allow the oxygenation of the
myoglobin. The L*, a* and b* values were measured on the
product surface, and five readings were carried out at each position
as previously reported (15).