The increase in bioload after 15 days in 0.5 kGy treated samples might be due to the rebouncing effect during
storage as reported by Fan et al. (2003) in the case of radiated Cilantro leaves. A dose of 1 kGy reduced the bioload to 12.0 cfu/g, which were 0 and few colonies after 7 and 14 days storage, respectively. The samples receiving 2 kGy or higher doses were completely free of bacteria during 14 days refrigerated storage.