Organic thyme oil emulsion as an alternative washing solution to enhance the microbial safety of organic cantaloupes

Emulsions of organic essential oils may be used as postharvest alternative washing solutions in fresh produce production. In the present study, organic thyme oil was emulsified with whey protein concentrate, gum arabic, lecithin, or their equal mass mixtures without using specialized equipment. The stability of these emulsions was monitored by measuring hydrodynamic diameter during ambient storage up to 7 days. The antimicrobial activity of...