NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS: APPLICATION IN FOOD PRESERVATION AND FOOD BORN DISEASE CONTROL

Abstract

Natural antimicrobial agents in food have gained much attention by the consumers and the food industry. The misuse of antibiotics has resulted in the dramatic rise of microorganisms that are antibiotic resistant and tolerant to several food processing and preservation methods. Additionally, increasing consumers' awareness of the negative impact of synthetic preservatives on health compared to the benefits of natural additives has caused interest among researchers in the development and usage of natural products in foods. This article reviews natural antimicrobial agents and their application in food preservation and food born disease control.