Oregano Oil Helps Reduce E. coli
Posted by Cindy McGlynn
Oregano oil and Apple Puree Added to Food Wrap Helps Reduce E. coli, Researchers Say
CBC Reports U.S. and Spanish researchers have added a bacteria-killing oil to existing edible food wraps used to protect fruits and vegetables.
Made from apple puree and oregano oil, CBC News reports that the fruit wraps (not unlike fruit roll-ups or fruit-leather found in lunchboxes everywhere) "show promise in laboratory studies of becoming a long-lasting, potent alternative to conventional produce washes," citing a press release from the American Chemical Society said.
Big news, considering E. coli on U.S. spinach killed three people recently, and there have been repeated scares about salmonella and other contaminants.
Oregano has well-known antibacterial properties. The wraps were developed three years ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The wraps haven't yet to been tested on fresh produce, but the scientists are already planning experiments targeting other food bacteria, including salmonella.
The apple puree results in a sticky film which stays on fruits and vegetables longer than conventional water-based product washes. And the stickiness keeps the oregano oil in close contact to the surfaces where the bacteria grow.
The antibacterial coating could also be used as a spray or dip for fresh fruits and vegetables..
The researchers' study is set to be published in the society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on Nov. 29.
Big news, considering E. coli on U.S. spinach killed three people recently, and there have been repeated scares about salmonella and other contaminants.
Oregano has well-known antibacterial properties. The wraps were developed three years ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The wraps haven't yet to been tested on fresh produce, but the scientists are already planning experiments targeting other food bacteria, including salmonella.
The apple puree results in a sticky film which stays on fruits and vegetables longer than conventional water-based product washes. And the stickiness keeps the oregano oil in close contact to the surfaces where the bacteria grow.
The antibacterial coating could also be used as a spray or dip for fresh fruits and vegetables..
The researchers' study is set to be published in the society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on Nov. 29.
