In conclusion, commercially available EOs possess potent antimicrobial
activity. In comparison with their related ORs, EOs are much more
effective against tested bacteria in term of MIC values. Although, even
if numerous EOs and ORs possess antibacterial properties their strong
flavoring properties will ultimately limit their usage as food antimicrobial
agents’. Following our research, only a fewpotent EOs could be used
in combination with other antimicrobial treatments to inhibit the
growth of food pathogens. Current sensorial limit is too low to obtain
satisfactory microbial inhibition when EOs are used alone. Further
analysis, in artificially contaminated hamwith L.monocytogenes showed
a reduction of the growth ratewhen using oregano and cinnamon cassia
EOs. These EOs could be used for food preservation against food
pathogens in combinations with other treatments to increase the
antimicrobial effects as well as to reduce the concentration of EOs
required to be used. Other antimicrobial compounds such as organic
acids or bacterialmetabolites or other physicalmethods such as ionizing
irradiation or high pressure processing can be used in combinationwith
the most potent EOs to achieve the required bactericidal effect without
impairing the taste of the food products.