Broiler chicken carcasses were packaged under vacuum in film of low oxygen transmission rate, or under
CO 2 in gas-impermeable aluminum foil laminate. The packaged carcasses were stored at + 3 or - 1.5 o C.
The initial flora was dominated by enterobacteria. Vacuum-packaged carcasses developed microbial
populations in which enterobacteria continued to predominate, and were spoiled by persistent putrid
odours after 2 weeks storage at 3°C or 3 weeks storage at -1.5°C. Growth of enterobacteria was
inhibited on carcasses packaged under CO 2, the microflora that developed being dominated by
lactobacilfi. However, slow growth of the enterobacteria eventually resumed, and putrid spoilage was
apparent after 7 weeks storage at 3°C or 14 weeks storage at -1.5 o C.