Natural Antimicrobials, their Sources and Food Safety

Abstract

With consumer awareness about food safety and quality, there is a high demand for the preservative (synthetic)-free foods and use of natural products as preservatives. Natural antimicrobials from different sources are used to preserve food from spoilage and patho- genic microorganisms. Plants (herbs and spices, fruits and vegetables, seeds and leaves) are the main source of antimicrobials and contain many essential oils that have preser- vation effect against different microorganisms. Mainly, herb and spices contain many essential oils and the examples include rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, thyme, cardamom, and clove. These essential oils are very effective against many pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., and Staphylococcus aureus and help to increase their quality and shelf stability. These anti- microbial compounds are also used in combination with edible food coatings and inhibit the ability of microorganisms to grow on the surface of food and food products.