Presented are compositions that can be used as antimicrobial coatings or protective coatings for agricultural (e.g., food) products. The compositions can comprise one or more saturated glycerides selected from monoglycerides and diglycerides; one or more surfactants; and one or more food-safe antimicrobials. The antimicrobial coatings or protective coatings can be used to prevent or delay food spoilage due to, for instance, infection by a foreign pathogen, moisture loss, or oxidation.

Presented are compositions that can be used as antimicrobial coatings or protective coatings for agricultural (e.g., food) products. The compositions can comprise one or more saturated glycerides selected from monoglycerides and diglycerides; one or more surfactants; and one or more food-safe antimicrobials. The antimicrobial coatings or protective coatings can be used to prevent or delay food spoilage due to, for instance, infection by a foreign pathogen, moisture loss, or oxidation.

A block copolymer (A) including a vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) and an ionic polymer block (c) containing a monomer unit with an ionic group forming a salt and a vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit. The ionic group is a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, or an ammonium group. The vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) from 15,000 to 220,000. The ionic polymer block (c) has a content of the vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit from 5 to 95 mol % based on the total monomer units. The block copolymer (A) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) from 20,000 to 440,000. A ratio (Mn.sub.b/Mn.sub.A) of the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) is from 0.1 to 0.9.

A block copolymer (A) including a vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) and an ionic polymer block (c) containing a monomer unit with an ionic group forming a salt and a vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit. The ionic group is a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, or an ammonium group. The vinyl alcohol-based polymer block (b) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) from 15,000 to 220,000. The ionic polymer block (c) has a content of the vinyl alcohol-based monomer unit from 5 to 95 mol % based on the total monomer units. The block copolymer (A) has a number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) from 20,000 to 440,000. A ratio (Mn.sub.b/Mn.sub.A) of the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.b) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn.sub.A) is from 0.1 to 0.9.