For each box and treatment, samples (10 g) were obtained under sterilized conditions (laminar fume cupboard, gloves and scalpels),which were homogenized in 90 mL of sterile peptone water using a stomacher (Model Seward, Laboratory Blender Stomacher 400,London, UK). Serial dilutions were carried out and 1 mL was addedto plate count agar for mesophilic aerobic and for mould and yeast counts (PetrifilmTM Aerobic Count Plate, Laboratories 3MTMSanté,France), and only counts of 30–300 colony forming units (CFU) were considered. The same procedure was carried out on recently harvested arils (day 0) and after chlorination. All plates were incubated for 3 days at 25 and 30◦C for mesophilic and mould and yeast,respectively, and results (mean ± SE) expressed as CFU g−1