Effect of Some Essential Oils as Natural Food Preservatives on Commercial Grated Carrots
Romeo, F.V.; De Luca, S.; Piscopo, A.; De Salvo, E.; Poiana, M.
Journal of Essential Oil Research 22(3): 283-287
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1041-2905
DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2010.9700325
Accession: 070626712
In the present work, the effects of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and lemon-balm (Melissa officinalis) essential oils against the growth of three microorganisms (potentially dangerous to the safety of foods) were evaluated. The three oils were chosen and tested on grated carrots inoculated with bacteria and stored at 8 C until 8 days to simulate the market sale. The most resistant of the three strains against all the tested oils was Escherichia coli, while Listeria strain was the most easily influenced. An important interaction was revealed with the packaging type: oxygen diffusion greatly influenced the bacteria survival at the end of the experiment.