Fatemeh Raji - Department of Food Hygiene and Aquatics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
Saeid Khanzadi - Department of Food Hygiene and Aquatics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Hashemi - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Azizzadeh - Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.

Background: Active antimicrobial packaging is a novel method for increasing the safety and shelf life of food products. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of chitosan coating nano-emulsion incorporated with Zataria multiflora and Bunium persicum essential oils at the concentrations of ۰.۵% and ۱%, respectively on E. coli O۱۵۷:H۷ in vacuum-packed fish samples during ۱۲ days of refrigeration. Methods: The samples were divided into various groups, including control (no coating), ۲% chitosan, ۲% chitosan nano-emulsion, and chitosan coating nano-emulsion containing Zataria multiflora and Bunium persicum essential oils at the concentrations of ۰.۵% and ۱%, respectively. The samples were vacuum-packed and stored at refrigeration temperature, and bacterial counting was performed on days zero, one, two, four, six, eight, and ۱۲. Results: The mean bacterial count had a significant difference between the study groups during ۱۲ days of storage (P < ۰.۰۰۱). The most significant inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli O۱۵۷:H۷ was observed with nano-emulsion of chitosan containing ۱% of Bunium persicum. Conclusion: According to the results, using the nano-emulsion of chitosan coating with essential oils could effectively decrease the growth of E. coli O۱۵۷:H۷ in food products, especially fish.in food especially fish.

Chitosan, Nano-emulsion, Zataria Muitiflora, Bunium persicum, E.coli O۱۵۷:H۷