Compounds extracted from avocado seeds can potentially be used as a natural additive incorporated into ready-to-eat foods to control microbes that cause foodborne bacterial illness, scientists say.
Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria infection can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems, researchers said.
Researchers from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico compared enriched acetogenin extract (EAE) from avocado seeds with two name-brand synthetic antimicrobials.
They found that the EAE presented similar listeria-properties and chemical profiles to the synthetic antimicrobials.
The EAE was effective at 37 degrees Celsius and at a refrigeration temperature of 4 degrees Celsius.
While humans already consume actetogenins from avocado pulp that are above antilisterial levels, bioavailability and safety of the extracts from avocado seeds need further assessment.
Avocado seeds are a waste product of the food industry, and these results offer a value-added, sustainable opportunity for manufacturers.
"Consumer demand for food products formulated without synthetic additives has increased," researchers said.
"However, food still has to be safe for consumers to eat, so food scientists are looking for ways to replace synthetic additives," they said.
Since some additives are needed for food safety reasons, food product developers are faced with the challenge of developing more "natural" additives that can produce comparable results.
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