Preservation with acyloxy-5-hexenoic and acyloxy-4-hexenoic acids

A method of inhibiting growth of pathogenic or food spoilage microorganism in a food or feed product which comprises treating said product with an effective growth inhibiting amount of acyloxyhexenoic acid selected from acyloxy-5-hexenoic acid and acyloxy-4-hexenoic acid, mixtures thereof, salts thereof and mixtures of said salts, said acyloxyhexenoic acid having up to one R.sub.1 substituent on the alpha carbon atom, said acyloxy being represented by RC00-, and said R and R.sub.1 being alkyl or alkenyl having a total of up to 19 carbon atoms.

A composition comprising a food or feed product and an effective pathogenic or food spoilage microorganism growth inhibiting amount of acyloxyhexenoic acid selected from acyloxy-5-hexenoic acid and acyloxy-4-hexenoic acid, mixtures thereof, salts thereof and mixtures of said salts, said acyloxyhexenoic acid having up to one R.sub.1 substituent on the alpha carbon atom, said acyloxy being represented by RC00-, and said R and R.sub.1 being alkyl or alkenyl having a total of up to 19 carbon atoms.

A method of inhibiting growth of pathogenic or food spoilage microorganisms which comprises contacting same with an effective growth inhibiting amount of a mixtures of sorbic acid and acyloxyhexenoic acid selected from acyloxy-5-hexenoic acid and acyloxy-4-hexenoic acid, mixtures thereof, salts thereof and mixtures of said salts, said acyloxyhexenoic acid having up to one R.sub.1 substituent on the alpha carbon atom, said acyloxy being represented by RC00-, and said R and R.sub.1 being alkyl or alkenyl having a total of up to 19 carbon atoms and wherein the ratio of acylohexenoic acid to sorbic acid varies from about 2:1 to 1:2.

A composition comprising a mixture of sorbic acid and acyloxyhexenoic acid selected from acyloxy-5-hexenoic acid and acyloxy-4-hexenoic acid, mixtures thereof, salts thereof and mixtures of said salts, said acyloxyhexenoic acid having up to one R.sub.1 substituent on the alpha carbon atom, said acyloxy being represented by RC00-, and said R and R.sub.1 being alkyl or alkenyl having a total of up to 19 carbon atoms and wherein the ratio of acylohexenoic acid to sorbic acid varies from about 2:1 to 1:2.