Aim of this work was preparation of food from quickly perishable Mediterranean ingredients and to test antimicrobial activity of bioactive extracts in vitro and in food models - eggplant homogenate and spread. We tested antimicrobial activity of the phenolic leaf extract from blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), extract of the waste distillate of common juniper (Juniperus communis), their combination, cell free spent medium (CFSM) of Lb. paraplantarum, protective culture Lb. paraplantarum and packaging PLA foil with chitosan coating and extract combinations against pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms and natural microbiome of spread. With preparation processes of spread and its storage under realistic storage conditions in the refrigerator 4 - 5 °C, we inhibited the growth of aerobic sporogenic bacteria. Additives in the spread did not reduce the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria. The combination of blackberry and juniper extracts and Lb. paraplantarum CFSM was effective in challenge test with P. fragi and L. innocua, thus it has the greatest potential for use in foods. The use of a protective culture makes sense for foods that are intended for long-term storage, as their antimicrobial activity develops over time and makes the product more acidic. Functionalized PLA film with chitosan coating and/or added plant extracts did not further improve the antimicrobial activity of the combination of food additives, despite the demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy of the films in in vitro tests.
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