Table 1.
Sampling scheme. Number of packages with approximately 10 slices each (except the challenge test, which contained five slices each).
| Attribute | 0 d | 21 d | 42 d | 63 d | 84 d | 105 d | 126 d | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus Groups | ||||||||
| Freshly produced (batch X) | (3 directly used; 3 frozen/thawed) | 6 | ||||||
| End of shelf life (batch Y) | 9 (3 direct; 3 frozen/thawed; 3 temperature abuse) | 6 | ||||||
| Sensory—consumption freshness and CATA | ||||||||
| Batch 1 | 5 † | 5 † | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 35 |
| Batch 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 35 |
| Microbiological and physical-chemical | ||||||||
| Batch 1 | 2 | NA | 1 | 2 | 1 | NA | 2 | 7 |
| Batch 2 | 1 | NA | 2 | 1 | 2 | NA | 1 | 7 |
| Challenge test | ||||||||
| Batch 1 (3 packages) Ψ | 2 ϕ | NA | 1 | 2 | 1 | NA | 2 | 3 |
| Batch 2 (3 packages) Ψ | 1 | NA | 2 | 1 | 2 | NA | 1 | 3 |
† Shaded in grey—samples tested in one session; not shaded—samples tested in another session. Ψ A total of 30 slices (packages × 10 slices/package) were divided into five slices/package for L. monocytogenes inoculation. ϕ The packages in the challenge test were prepared in our laboratory. Each package contained five slices. NA—not analyzed.