2.4.6. Microbiological analyses
Microbiological analyses were carried out immediately after the drying process and on a weekly basis throughout the storage
period. Also, the trays were visually controlled daily in order to detect symptoms of microbial development. At each evaluation
date, samples were analyzed for mesophilic and psychrotrophic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds. The following media and culture conditions were used: (1) APHA agar (Cultimed, Spain) incubated at 35 C for 48 h and at 7C for 7 d, for mesophiles (FDA, 1995) and psychrotrophic (ICMSF, 1982) bacteria, respectively and (2) Sabouraud Glucose Agar plus Chloramphenicol media (Cultimed, Spain)incubated at 25C for 5 d for yeasts and molds. All samples were
analyzed in duplicate and microbial counts were expressed as log10cfu/g of tissue.