Efficacy of caprylic acid, lauric arginate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate and methyl benzoate against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on stainless steel surfaces.

Contaminated food contact surfaces play a vital role in spreading Staphylococcus aureus to consumers, resulting in several staphylococcal foodborne outbreaks. This highlights the significance of proper and effective sanitization of food contact surfaces. Although chemical sanitizers are widely used for this purpose, the growing tendency of consumers toward avoiding their uses due to their health hazards in addition to their economic drawbacks shifted our attention to investigating alternative natural compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of natural antimicrobial agents, including caprylic acid (CA), lauric arginate ester (LAE), benzyl alcohol (BA), benzyl benzoate (BB), and methyl benzoate (MB), at practical concentrations against S. aureus biofilms on stainless steel surfaces. In general, the antimicrobial efficacies of the investigated sanitizers were enhanced either by increasing their concentrations or by extending the exposure time from 1 to 5 min. The 5-min treatment of 400 ppm CA, 1.0% BA, 1.0% BB, and 1.0% MB reduced the S. aureus biofilm with ∼3.9, 3.4, 2.3, and 2.3 log CFU/coupon, respectively. However, organic matter conditioning of the stainless steel surfaces with diluted whole milk counteracted the antimicrobial efficacies of all the investigated sanitizers. The 5-min treatment of 200 ppm LAE caused ∼2.6 log CFU/coupon reduction of S. aureus biofilm on soiled surfaces, compared to ∼4.4 log CFU/coupon reduction on clean surfaces. The obtained data provide practical information and guidance for effective sanitization of food contact surfaces in the food sector. • Organic matter soiling didn't affect S. aureus biofilm formation on surfaces. • The efficacy of all investigated sanitizers was concentration-dependent. • Increasing exposure time to investigated sanitizers enhanced their efficacy. • The efficacy of investigated sanitizers was reduced by organic matter presence. • LAE (200 ppm, 5-min) reduced 4.4 log S. aureus biofilm on clean surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]