One-way ANOVA showed that mold and yeast counts were
affected by both storage time and incorporation of antimicrobial agents into the plastic bags. Mold and yeast count increased
(P < 0.05) from 5.49 to levels ranging from 5.84 to 6.86 log cfu/g
after 6 days of storage. As shown in Fig. 3, the drumsticks packed
with active bags had lower (P < 0.05) mold and yeast counts than
those packed in control bag. The rate of increase in mold and yeast
counts during the storage periods was the highest in drumstick
packed in control bags whereas it was the lowest in the samples
packed in chitosan-containing bag. As a result, samples packaged
with antimicrobial agents, especially with chitosan, nisin and PS,
had low mold and yeast count throughout the 6 days of storage
period.