Abstract: The presence of microorganisms in or on food can lead to, for example, disease, damage (loss of food), a shortening of shelf life, premature ripening, reduced yield, spoilage and/or rotting. Microbial contamination of food also represents a potential health risk, increasing the likelihood of food poisoning and the like. This disclosure provides methods, uses and compositions which may be exploited as a means to reduce or eliminate the presence of microorganisms on or in food and in turn, the various problems associated therewith. Provided is a method of decontaminating food or a food growing medium, substrate or compost of one or more microorganisms, said method comprising contacting the food and/or the food growing medium, substrate or compost with one or more phage.

Abstract: The disclosure provides phage-based methods, compositions and uses which may be applied to the prevention, management and/or control of microorganisms that cause damage, disease, spoilage and/or or loss of food, including vegetable, fruit and other fresh produce. The disclosure exploits bacteriophage (or “phage”) as a means to inactivate, kill or destroy microorganisms present on food and which are associated with, for example, disease, damage and spoilage (rotting).