4. Conclusion
The antimicrobial packaging film developed at Fraunhofer IVV could be shown to be efficient against various food-contaminating microorganisms like E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli could be observed with a standardized test method as well as via application on food samples like artificially contaminated cheese and meat. This antimicrobial film is able to prevent and even reduce the growing of pathogens such as E. coli on food surfaces. In this way the sorbic acid containing lacquer coating is a promising technique to contribute significantly to the quality and safety of packaged food.