Abstract: The present invention provides a new inhibitor for Bacillus cereus which has been designated officially as a pathogen of food poisoning, which comprises a protamine or its salt as an essential component.

Abstract: A liquid bactericide for foods and food processing machines or utensils, said bactericide comprising as active ingredients 98.0 to 2.3% (W/V) of ethyl alcohol, 1.0 to 96.7% (W/V) of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid and phytic acid and 1.0 to 96.7% (W/V) of phosphoric acid; said bactericide being capable of sterilizing within 30 seconds when used in an aqueous solution, such that the concentration of active ingredients in solution consists of 14 to 1% (W/V) of ethyl alcohol, 13.0 to 0.3% (W/V) of said organic acid and 0.7 to 0.03% (W/V) of phosphoric acid.

Abstract: An aqueous sterilizing agent for foods or food processing machines and utensils, comprising an aqueous solution containing about 0.5 to 75% by weight ethanol, an alkali carbonate selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate and a trialkali phosphate selected from the group consisting of trisodium phosphate and tripotassium phosphate wherein the combined amount of the carbonate and phosphate is about 0.5 to 40% by weight; and a method of sterilizing foods or food processing machines and utensils, which comprises contacting the foods or food processing machines and utensils with the above aqueous sterilizing agent.