The efficacy of the antimicrobial peptide cerein 8A to control the development of Listeria monocytogenes in milk and soft cheese was
investigated. The addition of 160 AU ml−1 cerein 8A to UHT milk resulted in a decrease of 3 log cycles in viable cells within the 14-day period at
4 °C. The viable counts of L. monocytogenes in pasteurized milk samples containing cerein 8A was lower than those observed in controls without
bacteriocin. Addition of cerein 8A to Minas-type soft cheese caused a delay in the start of exponential growth phase, although similar counts were
observed after day 6. When cerein 8A was used to control cheese surface contamination by L. monocytogenes, a decrease of 2 log cycles in viable
counts of cerein-treated samples was observed during 30 days at 4 °C. This antimicrobial peptide shows potential use as a biopreservative for
application in dairy products.