A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).

A composition for inhibiting the attachment of microbes to an animate or inanimate surface is disclosed. The composition includes a carrier and an effective amount of an anti-adherent agent. The anti-adherent agents include botanical agents such Soybean extract, Horse chestnut extract, Gypenoside, Resveratrol, Astragalus extract, Rhubarb rootextract, Allium cepaextract, Cassia seedextract, Ginkgo bilobaextract, and Silymarin, and combinations thereof. The efficacy of the botanical agents is microbe and surface dependent. Various delivery vehicles, including a wipe, may be used to deliver the composition to the surface.

A composition for inhibiting the attachment of microbes to an animate or inanimate surface is disclosed. The composition includes a carrier and an effective amount of an anti-adherent agent. The anti-adherent agents include botanical agents such Soybean extract, Horse chestnut extract, Gypenoside, Resveratrol, Astragalus extract, Rhubarb rootextract, Allium cepaextract, Cassia seedextract, Ginkgo bilobaextract, and Silymarin, and combinations thereof. The efficacy of the botanical agents is microbe and surface dependent. Various delivery vehicles, including a wipe, may be used to deliver the composition to the surface.

A pesticidal mixture of an oil and an aliphatic acid is provided. In mixture, the aliphatic acid and oil are each effective to reduce the mixture's melting point (or viscosity transition point) to below the oil's and acid's melting points (or viscosity transition points). The mixture can be eutectic, such that the melting point of the mixture is less than both the oil melting point and the acid melting point. The oil can be a fatty acid ester, such as a wax ester. The aliphatic acid can be a fatty acid. Pesticidal mixtures comprising various natural pesticidal oils are disclosed, including neem oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and karanja oil.

A pesticidal mixture of an oil and an aliphatic acid is provided. In mixture, the aliphatic acid and oil are each effective to reduce the mixture's melting point (or viscosity transition point) to below the oil's and acid's melting points (or viscosity transition points). The mixture can be eutectic, such that the melting point of the mixture is less than both the oil melting point and the acid melting point. The oil can be a fatty acid ester, such as a wax ester. The aliphatic acid can be a fatty acid. Pesticidal mixtures comprising various natural pesticidal oils are disclosed, including neem oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and karanja oil.

A pesticidal mixture of an oil and an aliphatic acid is provided. In mixture, the aliphatic acid and oil are each effective to reduce the mixture's melting point (or viscosity transition point) to below the oil's and acid's melting points (or viscosity transition points). The mixture can be eutectic, such that the melting point of the mixture is less than both the oil melting point and the acid melting point. The oil can be a fatty acid ester, such as a wax ester. The aliphatic acid can be a fatty acid. Pesticidal mixtures comprising various natural pesticidal oils are disclosed, including neem oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and karanja oil.

A method for forming a composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and a modified starch polymer within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Unlike the problems associated with proteins, the use of starch polymers allows for a greater degree of flexibility in the processing conditions and is still able to achieve good properties in the resulting composition. The present inventors have also discovered that a plasticizer may be employed to facilitate melt processing of the starch, as well as to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the starch where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically generally free of solvents. In this manner, the starch will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil. Due to the water sensitivity of the modified starch, however, it may be subsequently dispersed by moisture when it is desired to release the botanical oil.

A method for forming a composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and a modified starch polymer within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Unlike the problems associated with proteins, the use of starch polymers allows for a greater degree of flexibility in the processing conditions and is still able to achieve good properties in the resulting composition. The present inventors have also discovered that a plasticizer may be employed to facilitate melt processing of the starch, as well as to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the starch where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically generally free of solvents. In this manner, the starch will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil. Due to the water sensitivity of the modified starch, however, it may be subsequently dispersed by moisture when it is desired to release the botanical oil.

A composition for weed control and fertilizer comprising iron hydroxyl ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, humate, microelements, soy hydrolysate, calcium lignin, a natural-based wetting agent, molasses desurgarized solubles, and water, and may further comprise glycerin and/or preservatives, are provided. Methods for weed control and fertilization of plants comprising the steps of providing a composition comprising an effective amount of iron hydroxyl ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, humate, microelements, soy hydrolysate, calcium lignin, a natural-based wetting agent, and molasses desurgarized solubles, and applying an effective amount of the composition to soil or a plant or a weed, are also provided.