The antimicrobials used in this study were oregano essential oil (OEO) obtained from O. vulgare L. (Nobilis Tilia, Czech Republic), originating from Spain and containing mainly carvacrol (72%), p-cymene (7.6%) and γ-terpinene (5.7%); caprylic acid (CA; ≥ 98%, Sigma-Aldrich, USA) and citric acid (anhydrous, p.a., Lach-Ner, Czech Republic). Both CA and OEO were used undiluted whereas citric acid was first dissolved in distilled water. Concentrations of OEO and CA in the mixtures were based on their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined for the same L. monocytogenes strains in vitro ( Hulankova & Borilova, 2011). Approximately 2 × MIC of CA together with approximately 4 × MIC of OEO was determined as the highest sensory acceptable concentration in meat ( Table 1).