Active Micro Technologies has unveiled AMTicide VAF, which can prevent or inhibit fungal growth within a closed container housing a product.
The co-ferment (INCI: Propanediol and Bacillus ferment and Saccharomyces ferment filtrate) is claimed to eliminate the need for conventional preservatives.
While many alternative preservatives are non-volatile and cannot evaporate to prevent microbial growth inside the packaging, Bacillus spp. can produce non-volatile and volatile secondary metabolites that exhibit antifungal activity.
Saccharomyces boulardii, meanwhile, is a probiotic strain of yeast, which can interact with other microorganisms.
This co-inoculation is claimed to capture an enhanced production of volatile compounds by the Bacillus cells.
Through selective filtration techniques, the volatile organic metabolites are isolated and extracted to deliver a high-potency volatile agent that delivers moisturising and antifungal activities for effective headspace protection.