In vacuum-packaged samples, lower differences were observed
for TVC, although batch C still showed higher numbers (data not
shown). The counts of B. thermosphacta showed significant differences
(P b 0.05) between batch C and nitrate/nitrite samples, increasing by
0.5–1 log cfu/g when no nitrate/nitrite were added (Table 1). No
significant differences due to the concentration of curing agents were
observed in LAB counts (data not shown).