<p>The preservative could extend the food's life for several years -- and even work for opened bottles of wine and salad dressing, the researchers said.<br /><br />The discovery, they said, is set to revolutionise the way people shop and can also reduce the tonnes of food waste thrown out every year, the Daily Mail reported.<br /><br />According to the researchers, bisin occurs naturally in some types of harmless bacteria. It prevents the growth of lethal bacteria including E-coli, salmonella and listeria.<br /><br />The substance could extend the life of a variety of everyday foods which have strict use-by dates including seafood, cheese and canned goods, they said.<br /><br />In some cases these foods could last for years and may not even need to be kept in the fridge, they claimed.<br /><br />The scientists, who have patented the substance, are already in talks with food manufacturers. The first products containing bisin are expected to be on the market within three years.<br /><br />Dr Dan O'Sullivan, a microbiologist at the university who accidentally found bisin while examining a culture of bacteria found in human intestine, said: "It seems to be much better than anything which has gone before."<br /><br />"It doesn't compromise nutrient quality -- we are not adding a chemical, we are adding a natural ingredient. It's aimed at protecting foods from a broad range of bugs that cause disease," he said. <br /><br />According to the researcher, bisin will not prevent fruit and vegetables rotting as they decompose in a different way.<br /><br />Sandwiches, takeaways and ready meals have now become a staple part of diet, but mass production has increased the risks of food poisoning.<br /><br />Salmonella was one of the biggest culprits, accounting for around one in eight of those. Up to 500 people die from food poisoning every year in the UK alone.<br /><br />Bisin is chemically related to nisin which is already used to keep processed cheese sterile and edible for decades so it does not require pharmaceutical testing.<br /><br />Last month food and drink wholesaler Booker revealed it would start supplying sandwiches with a shelf-life of two weeks to convenience stores and corner shops.<br /><br />The sandwich, the firm says, is designed to minimise wastage and the secret to its long life is in the ingredients, including oatmeal bread, as well as a protective atmosphere inside the packaging.<br /><br />It uses a process of gas flushing in which oxygen in the packaging is replaced by CO2 and nitrogen.</p>
<p>The preservative could extend the food's life for several years -- and even work for opened bottles of wine and salad dressing, the researchers said.<br /><br />The discovery, they said, is set to revolutionise the way people shop and can also reduce the tonnes of food waste thrown out every year, the Daily Mail reported.<br /><br />According to the researchers, bisin occurs naturally in some types of harmless bacteria. It prevents the growth of lethal bacteria including E-coli, salmonella and listeria.<br /><br />The substance could extend the life of a variety of everyday foods which have strict use-by dates including seafood, cheese and canned goods, they said.<br /><br />In some cases these foods could last for years and may not even need to be kept in the fridge, they claimed.<br /><br />The scientists, who have patented the substance, are already in talks with food manufacturers. The first products containing bisin are expected to be on the market within three years.<br /><br />Dr Dan O'Sullivan, a microbiologist at the university who accidentally found bisin while examining a culture of bacteria found in human intestine, said: "It seems to be much better than anything which has gone before."<br /><br />"It doesn't compromise nutrient quality -- we are not adding a chemical, we are adding a natural ingredient. It's aimed at protecting foods from a broad range of bugs that cause disease," he said. <br /><br />According to the researcher, bisin will not prevent fruit and vegetables rotting as they decompose in a different way.<br /><br />Sandwiches, takeaways and ready meals have now become a staple part of diet, but mass production has increased the risks of food poisoning.<br /><br />Salmonella was one of the biggest culprits, accounting for around one in eight of those. Up to 500 people die from food poisoning every year in the UK alone.<br /><br />Bisin is chemically related to nisin which is already used to keep processed cheese sterile and edible for decades so it does not require pharmaceutical testing.<br /><br />Last month food and drink wholesaler Booker revealed it would start supplying sandwiches with a shelf-life of two weeks to convenience stores and corner shops.<br /><br />The sandwich, the firm says, is designed to minimise wastage and the secret to its long life is in the ingredients, including oatmeal bread, as well as a protective atmosphere inside the packaging.<br /><br />It uses a process of gas flushing in which oxygen in the packaging is replaced by CO2 and nitrogen.</p>