Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of three herbs against Listeria monocytogenes on chicken frankfurters

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis. The inhibitory effect of essential oils (1% v/w) of Thymus daenensis Celak (Lamiaceae), Thymbra spicata L. (Lamiaceae) and Satureja bachtiarica Bunge (Lamiaceae) applied to the surface of chicken frankfurters was determined on L. monocytogenes inoculated at low (103 CFU/g) and high (106 CFU/g) populations and stored for seven and 14 days. The results showed that L. monocytogenes populations increased during seven and 14 days of storage at 4 °C on control frankfurters without essential oil. The application of 1 % essential oil (v/w) of herbs to frankfurter surfaces can significantly reduce (p<0.05) the L. monocytogenes populations as compared to control in two inocula treatments after seven and 14 days of storage at 4 °C.