A food preservative includes a synergistic combination of a polyphenolic compound and a phenolic aldehyde. In one advantageous form, the polyphenolic compound is selected from the group consisting of hesperidin, ellagic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin, crude extract of citrus, pomegranate, and a crude extract of green tea and the phenolic aldehyde is vanillin. Advantageously, the composition has synergistic effects to limit microbial growth, acting as an antimicrobial agent and/or an antioxidant.

A food preservative includes a synergistic combination of a polyphenolic compound and a phenolic aldehyde. In one advantageous form, the polyphenolic compound is selected from the group consisting of hesperidin, ellagic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin, crude extract of citrus, pomegranate, and a crude extract of green tea and the phenolic aldehyde is vanillin. Advantageously, the composition has synergistic effects to limit microbial growth, acting as an antimicrobial agent and/or an antioxidant.