six-layered filrn (gauge 60-75 um) with an oxygen transmission rate of 15 ml. m-2 24 h-1 at 23'c , Packs from each treatment were divided Into two groups and one group of each treatment was pasteurized by immersion of packs into a hot-water cooker held at 70'c (+-3) for 30 min and cooled in an icebath to a sausage core temperature of 4'c Sausage surfaces facing the outhide of packs reached a temperature of 65'C after 5 min of heating and, then, linearly increasedbin temperature to reach 70'c by the end of the 30 min period. Sausage surfaces at the centre of the pack. however. reached a temperature of 35'c after 5 min of pasteurization, and increased linearly to a final temperature of 65'c