The aerobic plate count (APC) was estimated by dry rehydrat- able film (3 M Petrifilm aerobic plate count) method as per AOAC official method 990.12 (AOAC, 2012a). Briefly, 50 g of each sample were drawn aseptically and homogenized with 450 ml of phosphate buffer in a filter stomacher bag using a Stomacher® 400 Circulator (Seward Limited, UK) for 2 min at 200 rpm. After decimal dilu- tions, top film was lifted and 1 ml of duplicates of three consecutive dilutions were separately placed onto the center of film base. The suspensions were distributed over the prescribed growth area with a plastic spreader device. The petrifilm were incubated at 48 ± 3 h at 35 ± 1 ◦ C. Similarly, the yeast and mould count was determined by dry rehydratable film (3 M Petrifilm yeast and mould) method as per AOAC official method 990.02 (AOAC, 2012b). The yeast and mould petrifilm were incubated in stacks not exceeding 2 units for 5 days at 20–25◦C.