Agricultural Research Service experts say that herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, cinnamon and clove may have antimicrobial properties that are strong enough to fight foodborne pathogens as Escherichia coli O157:H7.

In the future, ready-to-eat- spinach leaves may be coated with thin, pliable, edible film containing substances such as carvacrol, an antibacterial compound found naturally in oregano.
Photo Credit: thomas pix