Currently, there is a strong debate about the safety aspects of chemical preservatives since they are considered
responsible for many carcinogenic and teratogenic attributes as well as residual toxicity. For these reasons, consumers tend to be suspicious of chemical additives and thus the demand for natural and socially more acceptable preservatives has been intensified (Skandamis, Koutsoumanis, Fasseas, & Nychas, 2001).
The exploration of naturally occurring antimicrobials for food preservation receives increasing attention due to consumer awareness of natural food products and a growing concern of microbial resistance towards conventional preservatives (Schuenzel & Harrison, 2002).