Germination inhibitor for thermophilic spore-forming bacteria, and method for producing sucrose fatty acid ester

A germination inhibitor for thermophilic spore-forming bacteria, which comprises a sucrose fatty acid ester, wherein palmitic acid makes up 90 mol% or more of constituent fatty acids in the sucrose fatty acid ester. The present invention provides a practically useful germination inhibitor which exhibits an excellent germination-inhibiting activity (a bacteriostatic activity) against thermophilic spore-forming bacteria and rarely affects a flavor. The present invention can also provide a food or beverage which is produced by a sterilization method using the sterilizing agent, is stable to corruption by microorganisms, does not undergo the change in flavor thereof and has an excellent taste. Therefore, the present invention greatly contributes to industries. The present invention is useful in the field of foods and beverages, particularly beverages including coffee, black tea, green tea, cocoa, green powdered tea, soybean milk, soups (e.g., corn soup, consomme soup, vegetable soup) and milk shake.