Maximum Recovery Diluent (MRD; Oxoid; 90 ml) was added to each bag containing a sponge-swab, the bag
exterior was then repeatedly squeezed manually for 1 min and further decimal dilutions were made in MRD (ISO
method 6887-1:1999). Sample homogenates or their appropriate dilutions were used for microbiological analysis.
For TVC and Enterobacteriaceae counts, the respective procedures were followed: ISO 4833:2004 and ISO 21528-
2:2009.
On both