Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Agents Coated on Starch‐Based Films against Staphylococcus aureus

:  This study investigated the antimicrobial (AM) activity of starch-based films coated with linalool, carvacrol, or thymol against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro or inoculated on the surface of Cheddar cheese. In solid media using the agar diffusion method, the inhibitory effect of linalool, carvacrol, or thymol coated onto the films increased significantly (P≤ 0.05) with the increase in concentration of each AM agent. All the coated films effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus on the surface of Cheddar cheese. The sensitivity of S. aureus to the AM agents tested in the concentration range of the study is in the order of thymol > carvacrol > linalool. Practical Application:  Biodegradable starch-based films can be used for packaging food products such as Cheddar cheese by adding a coating layer to protect the moisture sensitive starch material. The coating layer can be incorporated with natural antimicrobial agents that are effective against some microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus. This can potentially extend the shelf life of the food products and offer a more sustainable packaging option for manufacturers and consumers.