Biosurfactants: Forthcomings and Regulatory Affairs in Food-Based Industries

The terms discussed in this review—biosurfactants (BSs) and bioemulsifiers (BEs)—describe surface-active molecules of microbial origin which are popular chemical entities for many industries, including food. BSs are generally low-molecular-weight compounds with the ability to reduce surface tension noticeably, whereas BEs are high-molecular-weight molecules with efficient emulsifying abilities. Some other biomolecules, such as lecithin and egg yolk, are useful as natural BEs in food products. The high toxicity and severe ecological impact of many chemical-based surfactants have directed interest towards BSs/BEs. Interest in food surfactant formulations and consumer anticipation of “green label” additives over synthetic or chemical-based surfactants have been steadily increasing. BSs have an undeniable prospective for replacing chemical surfactants with vast significance to food formulations. However, the commercialization of BSs/BEs production has often been limited by several challenges, such as the optimization of fermentation parameters, high downstream costs, and low yields, which had an immense impact on their broader adoptions in different industries, including food. The foremost restriction regarding the access of BSs/BEs is not their lack of cost-effective industrial production methods, but a reluctance regarding their potential safety, as well as the probable microbial hazards that may be associated with them. Most research on BSs/BEs in food production has been restricted to demonstrations and lacks a comprehensive assessment of safety and risk analysis, which has limited their adoption for varied food-related applications. Furthermore, regulatory agencies require extensive exploration and analysis to secure endorsements for the inclusion of BSs/BEs as potential food additives. This review emphasizes the promising properties of BSs/BEs, trailed by an overview of their current use in food formulations, as well as risk and toxicity assessment. Finally, we assess their potential challenges and upcoming future in substituting chemical-based surfactants.


Introduction
The term 'food additives' represents the substances that are added to food to retain or preserve and/or improve some physical properties, often taste, texture, freshness and appearance, along with its safety. However, it is additionally imperative to evaluate the food additives themselves for their potential harmful effects on human health before they are utilized for their desired applications. Among several substances available, surfactants are considered as the most multifarious agents explored for varied applications, such as detergents, pesticide application, cosmetics and microbial enhanced oil recovery processes,

Biosurfactants as Food Additives
Food additives are compounds or substances that facilitate the enhancement of overall food properties. Since ancient times, some food additives such as salt, sugar, and SO 2 , have been utilized to preserve meats, fishes, beverages, etc. Currently, the journey of food additives has made huge advances, from kitchens and small factories to the advanced commercial scale. Food additives have been obtained from various natural sources, or synthesized chemically, and added to food items to achieve some positive technological benefits. Thus, food additives should solely serve the intended desired aims of preserving the nutritional quality of food, and not result in any negative effects. Based upon their functional properties, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have broadly categorized additive compounds as (1) flavoring agents, (2) enzyme preparations, and (3) other additives.
Microbial surfactants as food additives comprise molecules that may be introduced to food in order to confer emulsifying, foaming, thickening, texture-improving, and/or preserving properties, along with the encapsulation of fat-soluble substances such as vitamins (called "direct food additives"). Attributes such as antiadhesive/antimicrobial Molecules 2023, 28, 2823 3 of 14 or food surface cleaning are termed as "indirect food additives" that are fulfilled through packaging, coating, or transport and storage processes. Microbial BSs pose antiadhesive and antimicrobial activity against several pathogens and have been listed in Table 1. BSs may interact with porins (proteins of cross cellular membranes) and may lead to leakage of the cytoplasmic content of the cell, resulting in cell death [13]. However, prior to the inclusion of BSs/BEs in food processing, they must undergo critical toxicological assessment protocols which test synergistic compatibility with food molecules, dosage limit determinations for daily intake, and potential protective effects of their use. Rhamnolipids (RLs) have been reported to improve various properties, such as dough stability, batter texture, and the volume and shape of bakery products [14]. A patent on 'RLs in bakery products' emphasizes the improvement of dough characteristics and the volume of bakery products after mixing with RLs [15]. Basically, L-rhamnose is a methyl pentose natural sugar found in varied microbial RLs [16], which is useful as a food additive.
Kiran et al. [17] described the BSs of Nesterenkonia sp. for the enhancement of muffin texture. The Nesterenkonia sp. are obligate aerobes, grouped under the genus Micrococci, which grow optimally between 25 and 37 • C. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analysis of isolates showed Kocuria, Kytococcus Dermacoccus, and Nesterenkonia under the genus Micrococcus [18]. Use of Nesterenkonia provides various additional benefits to the muffins, including a decrease in hardness, chewiness and gumminess compared to control treatments in the presence of 0.75% lipopeptide in the preparation mixture. The roles of microbial BSs/BEs (e.g., surfactin, RLs, lipopeptides, glycolipids, and emulsan) as emulsifiers, bakery additives, flavor enhancers, bread improvers, etc., are outlined in Figure 1 and listed in Table 2.
Microbial surfactants as food additives comprise molecules that may be introduced to food in order to confer emulsifying, foaming, thickening, texture-improving, and/or preserving properties, along with the encapsulation of fat-soluble substances such as vitamins (called "direct food additives"). Attributes such as antiadhesive/antimicrobial or food surface cleaning are termed as "indirect food additives" that are fulfilled through packaging, coating, or transport and storage processes. Microbial BSs pose antiadhesive and antimicrobial activity against several pathogens and have been listed in Table 1. BSs may interact with porins (proteins of cross cellular membranes) and may lead to leakage of the cytoplasmic content of the cell, resulting in cell death [13]. However, prior to the inclusion of BSs/BEs in food processing, they must undergo critical toxicological assessment protocols which test synergistic compatibility with food molecules, dosage limit determinations for daily intake, and potential protective effects of their use. Rhamnolipids (RLs) have been reported to improve various properties, such as dough stability, batter texture, and the volume and shape of bakery products [14]. A patent on 'RLs in bakery products' emphasizes the improvement of dough characteristics and the volume of bakery products after mixing with RLs [15]. Basically, L-rhamnose is a methyl pentose natural sugar found in varied microbial RLs [16], which is useful as a food additive.
Kiran et al. [17] described the BSs of Nesterenkonia sp. for the enhancement of muffin texture. The Nesterenkonia sp. are obligate aerobes, grouped under the genus Micrococci, which grow optimally between 25 and 37 °C. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analysis of isolates showed Kocuria, Kytococcus Dermacoccus, and Nesterenkonia under the genus Micrococcus [18]. Use of Nesterenkonia provides various additional benefits to the muffins, including a decrease in hardness, chewiness and gumminess compared to control treatments in the presence of 0.75% lipopeptide in the preparation mixture. The roles of microbial BSs/BEs (e.g., surfactin, RLs, lipopeptides, glycolipids, and emulsan) as emulsifiers, bakery additives, flavor enhancers, bread improvers, etc., are outlined in Figure 1 and listed in Table 2.    Campos et al. [34] established the varied formulations of mayonnaise with Candida utilis derived BE as a key ingredient to confer stability to the emulsion during storage process. Dough properties and volume were considerably improved with the use of the chemical emulsifier glycerol monostearate at the application of 0.1% BSs. In another example B. subtilis-derived surfactants were reported highlighting their ability to enhance dough structural properties and the textural quality of cookies [37]. Similarly, Mnif et al. [38] reported the enhancement of bread dough quality with a B. subtilis-derived BS at a concentration of 0.075% (w/w) in comparison to soya lecithin. Other additional improvements in the structural properties of bread, such as chewiness, cohesion, and reduction in firmness were also reported.
In a bakery-related application, Silva et al. [39] had incorporated a BS into cupcakes as a replacement of 50-100% of the plant fat contents. The replacement of plant fat by a BS resulted in some improvement in the nutritional value of the cupcake, through the reduction of trans-fatty acids (prevalent in plant fat). Microbial BSs have also been explored to improve animal feed by enriching rapeseed meal with GRAS microorganisms. Much longer ago (1951), it was already well known that surfactants encourage the growth of chickens [50]. It was also later suggested that non-ionic surfactants do have an additional impact on animals, in improving their weight, milk production capacity, and feed hydrolysis [51]. Enriching rapeseed meal with BSs produced by GRAS microorganisms successfully hydrolyzes the rapeseed meal and provides several benefits in terms of probiotic concepts. Therefore, BSs can be used as a magnificent substitute to antibiotics, some of which are restricted for use in animal feed [41].
The emulsification activity of BS/BE molecules is decisive for food industries and can be predicted by thorough understanding of their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), which designates their usage in the preparations of water-in-oil ( The foremost role of surface-active agents is dropping the interfacial tension that permits the formation of small droplets in an insoluble liquid (oil and water). Surfactants reduce adverse interactions between a water-oil (W/O) interface and permit the dispersion of droplets of one phase into the other. The decrease in the droplet size of an emulsion improves the stability of suspension or liquid solutions [53]. Another potential application of BSs and BEs is their ability to form micro-emulsions, which can be utilized as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and value-added molecules [54]. Research published by Farheen et al. [55] suggested P. aeruginosa-derived RLs, based in nano-BS preparation and its application in bakery industry facilitating enhanced emulsifying potential, as equated to synthetic surfactants. SLs are recognized for their substantial emulsification potential towards vegetable oil utilized in bakery preparations. Gaur et al. [62] reported the production of SLs by Candida spp. and further explored its applications as an emulsifier for the food industry. BSs exhibited substantial emulsification activity with olive (51%), soybean (39%), almond (50%), and mustard (50%) oils. It is a well-established fact that BSs can act as efficient emulsifying agents for several oils, and thus can probably be used in several food-related applications. Various other "indirect" applications, including biocidal, food preservation, and antibiofilm applications, need more substantiation and standardization protocols, environmental aspect assessments, along with synergy-supporting evidence [36,37]. Overall, applications of BSs/BEs in food, including their antimicrobial activities against pathogens, are certainly promising and are represented in Figure 2.
Molecules 2023, 28, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 14 dispersion of droplets of one phase into the other. The decrease in the droplet size of an emulsion improves the stability of suspension or liquid solutions [53]. Another potential application of BSs and BEs is their ability to form micro-emulsions, which can be utilized as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and value-added molecules [54]. Research published by Farheen et al. [55] suggested P. aeruginosa-derived RLs, based in nano-BS preparation and its application in bakery industry facilitating enhanced emulsifying potential, as equated to synthetic surfactants. SLs are recognized for their substantial emulsification potential towards vegetable oil utilized in bakery preparations. Gaur et al. [62] reported the production of SLs by Candida spp. and further explored its applications as an emulsifier for the food industry. BSs exhibited substantial emulsification activity with olive (51%), soybean (39%), almond (50%), and mustard (50%) oils. It is a well-established fact that BSs can act as efficient emulsifying agents for several oils, and thus can probably be used in several food-related applications. Various other "indirect" applications, including biocidal, food preservation, and antibiofilm applications, need more substantiation and standardization protocols, environmental aspect assessments, along with synergy-supporting evidence [36,37]. Overall, applications of BSs/BEs in food, including their antimicrobial activities against pathogens, are certainly promising and are represented in Figure 2.

Sensorial Behavior
In addition to the physical-chemical properties, other indispensable traits, such as sensorial behavior pattern, stability, and shelf life to food products may also be contributed by BSs and BEs. Due to their exceptional antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antiadhesive potentials, these BSs and BEs directly affect and/or impede the growth of pathogens in processed foods [63,64]. Ozdener et al. [65] extracted SLs from Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214 and demonstrated the sensorial properties of this BS. In the literature, SLs have been reported frequently from nonpathogenic yeast species from the genus Candida by growing them on renewable or cheaper substrates. SLs are used generally for the preparation of formulations for the use of cleaning solutions, as well as laundry and/or dishwashing disinfectants. Because of the uniqueness in the chemical structure of SLs, researchers have checked these surface-active molecules for properties, such as those affecting taste. The sensory characteristics of SLs were evaluated by Ozdener et al. [65] using cultured human fungiform taste papillae (HBO) cells. SLs have oral taste sensory acceptance, which widens their possibilities for food formulations, in order to mitigate bitter sensory properties in foods and drugs.
The broadened application potential of SLs has been demonstrated to capture the potential for nondetectable sweet dysgeusia in taste sensory sensation [65]. Sweet dysgeusia is associated with an unusual symptom which causes the individual to experience the perception of sweet taste for all kinds of food. The reason behind this distortion or condition has not been established yet. While its reason is still unidentified, it has been progressively described in the settings of lung cancer and syndrome of the unbalanced release of antidiuretic hormone-related hyponatremia (a condition in which sodium concentration in the blood is atypically low). The findings of such evaluations open up further potential for the practical applications of SLs for improving the bitter taste of foods and drugs, and improving drug-intake acquiescence by patients.
The combined characteristics of SLs as BSs, antibiocidal agents, and sensory tastestimulating substances will meaningfully increase the commercial value of such glycolipids. Detailed study in these proposed areas has opened new opportunities for applied aspects of BSs as masking and/or blocking substances which cause the bitter-taste perception of foods and drugs. Bitter-taste insight is an innate trait and induces aversive reactions for some food components. Blocking/reducing bitter-taste perception is a crucial parameter for the acquiescence and acceptability of some foods and medicines. Thus, SLs represent an ideal candidate for use in future drugs and other food product design, due to their decidedly specific positive interactions with T1R3 sweet taste receptors.

Food Matrix Interfaces
Even with the vast potential of BSs and BEs in food formulations, it would be misleading not to debate the efficiency of BSs without exploring their synergies with food particles. High-molecular-weight biosurfactants (HMWBSs) possess protein and polysaccharide moieties that are valuable for many food formulations. Head groups of these BSs bind to the charges present on proteins. Typically, HMWBSs are highly competent emulsifying agents. The anionic surfactant binding is synchronized with pH condition, along with supportive hydrophobic exchanges. Industrial use of BSs and BEs requires the following characteristics: (i) the lowest critical micelle concentration (CMC) -crucial to produce small droplets; (ii) production of the lowest droplet size; (iii) stability at a wide range of pH, ionic strengths, and high temperatures [65].
For achieving the antimicrobial prospective of BSs, their synergistic potential needs to be determined. Magalhães and Nitschke [66] reported synergistic bacteriostatic activity of BS when conjugated with nisin (polycyclic peptide) produced by Lactococcus lactis. Nisin has huge antibacterial potential and is used frequently as food preservative. Researchers reported synergism between BS and nisin which act on the cell membrane. The majority of fermented food (natto and plant-based fermentation) pathogens can be inhibited by bacteriocins producing Lactobacilli and BSs producing B. subtilis [67]. Attention towards the selection of appropriate matrix, low dose, and minimum daily intake quantities not only escalates their efficacy, but also contributes to overcoming the issues of their chemical equivalents. Accordingly, there is a general demand to determine the right combinations that would enhance the role of BSs in food production. The combination of BSs with bacteriocins and other orthodox food preservatives is beneficial for the development of active antimicrobial food packaging material and for conferring antimicrobial potential with synergistic effects. Furthermore, SLs with asymmetric structures are able to form self-assemblies with exclusive functionality. This concept has led to the assumption that glycolipids being amphiphilic in nature can span through the structurally similar cell membrane. This also facilitates the entry of low concentrations of antimicrobials in order to achieve the anticipated potential of resisting substance abuse in biological systems.

Regulations to Chartered BSs and BEs as Food Additives
The adoption of BSs and BEs is vital in order for them to be established as food additives, as they essentially possess the functional characteristics to attain droplet coalescence and are nontoxic in nature [68,69]. No defined governing recommendations exist to date that charter any BSs or BEs as food additives. We must adhere to the regulatory framework and time required for taking a product or process from laboratory to the market for commercialization purposes. Acute toxicity (LD 50 dose) and allergy assessments are also needed before a substance can be established as a food additive [69]. The importance of the major end points, as recommended by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), governs the rules for the risk evaluation of food additives. All of the rules are based on acute toxicity, allergic responses, reproductive toxicity, and mutagenic behavior; thus, these can also be assumed for the safety evaluation of BSs and BEs.
Campos et al. [34] demonstrated the addition of glycolipids as a food additive. Researchers used 0.7% (w/v) glycolipids as a food additive in mayonnaise production. The intake of about 15 g of treated food by an adult weighing 50 kg would be equivalent to 0.10 g of BSs, which equates to 2 mg/kg of total body weight. The dose of 2 mg/kg is much lower than directed to determine acute toxicity in laboratory animals (3600 mg/kg), which led to assuming no acute risk [33]. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FAO, and the WHO recommended that ADI should be documented to deliver "an adequate edge of safety and reduce health hazards in all groups". The ADI denotes the amount of a food additive expressed or established per unit of body weight that can be ingested daily over a lifetime with no appreciable health risk. ADI approximates the amount of a food additive, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be administered daily while lacking considerable health risk. ADIs are only assigned to those food additives that are considerably cleared or removed from the body within 24 h.
One of the main classes of glycolipid BSs is that of RLs, which are primarily produced by the opportunistic pathogenic strains P. aeruginosa. This understanding led to the active search for alternative RL-producing strains [70]. Tripathi et al. [71] reported an RL-like BSproducing strain belonging to the genus Marinobacter. This strain showed no pathogenicity when evaluated using the Galleria mellonella infection model. Such strains expand the paradigm of RL biosynthesis to a new non-genetically-engineered bacteria, which may have prospects for food-related applications due to their potential to be synthesized from cheap, renewable feed stocks. Nonpathogenic BS-producing organisms are momentous, with reduced pathogenicity as compared to the pathogenic P. aeruginosa strains. Commercial production of RLs as possible food additives has been in progress in the USA (Jeneil Biotech, Saukville, WI, USA) with no defined hazards [72]. Jeneil Biotech produces natural BS molecules which can be utilized as promising alternatives over synthetic agents for various purposes, including the preservation of fruits and vegetables [72].
Microbial BSs fermentation processes utilize several renewable substrates for making their production economically feasible [73]. Commercial production of RLs, SLs and MELs from various strains is also underway considerably worldwide [73]. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a distinguished forum that comprises the governments of 37 democracies, who work dedicatedly to design standard policies (with market-based economies) that encourage livable economic growth. A German-based industry, 'Evonik', is on track for the commercial production of SLs. Evonik produces SLs that are compliant with the regulations of OECD 301 F, which is related to aerobic biodegradability, and ISO 11,734 (anaerobic biodegradability) with an index of 100% Renewable Carbon Index (RCI). The SLs from Evonik achieve encouragingly better products than chemical surfactants when assessed for water toxicity (OECD 211 and 202). SL production with improved yields has been achieved using genetically improved yeast with reduced production costs (US Patent in 2015).
Food ingredients with additives permitted after endorsement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for explicit use as BSs after labeling or identified as "GRAS" can be employed for potential applications. BSs obtained from C. utilis have been listed as GRAS organisms in the Code of Federal Regulations (The United States), originating from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Title 21 (21CFR-172.590). The list comprises approved food additives, based on a history of safety, which can be used in foods. Moreover, microorganism-initiated ingredients may be the subject of a GRAS notice (FDA, 2010). For example, various lactic acid bacteria could be used as food additives in order to govern frameworks and rationalize BSs, as they are all permitted GRAS strains. Eco-friendly, biodegradable, and safe materials need to be explored in detail for future applications [10,74,75].
Microbial surfactants are chemically composed of hydrophobic (lipids) and hydrophilic (sugars, proteins/peptides, and acids) moieties [75,76]. The moieties present in various known BSs are nontoxic in due their simple and biodegradable nature. However, the origin of BSs from soil-borne and opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa demands a thorough analysis of their toxicity. It can be observed that the reports explaining the cytotoxic assessment of BSs are limited, and considering their origin along with their unique functional attributes, it should be essential to assess the toxicity obtained from different strains [76]. Therefore, it should also be essential to determine the toxicity of the BSs/BEs to be considered for food formulations. Similar methods for the assessment of the cytotoxicity of the materials to be used in biomedical and human industries need to be established as per the European standards (UNE EN ISO 10993-5:2009) [77] and guidelines for the biological evaluation of medical devices for in vitro cytotoxicity. A similar approach has been adopted for the cytotoxicity assessment of BSs produced by L. pentosus [75]. It was established that BSs obtained from this strain did not display any cytotoxicity up to a 1 g/L concentration. Other studies on BSs produced by marine strains of Marinobacter and Pseudomonas also showed a lack of cytotoxicity in in vitro models of human skin and liver cell investigations [78,79]. In this sense, it can be easily established that low concentrations of BSs have no cytotoxicity on human health, and the same can be anticipated for the adoption of BSs in food formulations. BSs with high efficiency at low concentrations could also help to maintain a low ADI value. An indirectly low ADI means a minimal requirement to attain the functionality of the molecule in food production, which is actually effectual for minimizing the cost of BS adoption.

Antimicrobial Activity of Biosurfactant
Around 1.3 billion tons of food are lost around the globe annually, which results in the malnourishment of around one in nine people. Such food losses have been reported in a variety of vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, and in the meat and dairy industries [80]. The main reason for this problem is the deterioration of food quality, spoilage due to microbial attack, and the short shelf life of some foods. At present, several strategies for dealing with those challenges through the application of bio-based packaging material or antimicrobial agents are under investigation [81]. The existing research suggests the implementation of BSs, chitosan, bacteriocins, essential oils, and bio-based packaging material as potential processes for tackling this problem [82][83][84]. Recently, Kourmentza et al. [85] reported the antimicrobial activity of a lipopeptide BS against foodborne pathogens, such as Bacillus sp.
BSs are believed to induce disruption of plasma membranes, leading to a buildup of intramembranous elements in the microbial cells that results in enhancement of the electrical conductance of the cell membrane [86]. It is also known that BSs affect the fatty acid composition in the plasma membrane, which results in disruption of the membrane's permeability. BSs have also been reported to directly interact with the membrane lipids and trigger inhibition of some confined enzymes [87,88]. The antimicrobial activity of any compound depends upon the food matrix [89]. Food composition varies in proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, natural enzymes, inhibitors, and various other chemical constituents. The food matrix has a crucial role in the synergy of the antimicrobial activity of BSs. It can therefore be hypothesized from the above discussion that the presence of various enzymes, such as proteases, lipases, and other hydrolyzing enzymes, may affect the functionality and structural integrity of the surfactants. The use of BS-based antimicrobial compounds in food, therefore, requires proper evaluation of the impact of the food matrix on the functionality of these BSs. Understanding such an important aspect would be essential prior to the use of such BSs in food products.

Challenges and Forthcomings
BSs are finding their way into an increasing range of commercial products; however, the specific surface-active agents currently available are extremely limited and, consequently, do not always have the suitable physical-chemical characteristics to satisfy the formulation requirements of many products. As a result, chemical surfactants, which take many different forms, cannot always be replaced with a biologically produced equivalent. The two major glycolipid BSs, SLs and RLs, exhibit the widest potential for commercialisation. For RLs in particular, although many different wild-type bacteria have been reported to produce them, none of the organisms that produce them have high enough yields to be commercially viable. Therefore, as with many BSs, they fail to reach the marketplace due to two factors: yield and cost of production.
Despite extensive possible applications, microbial BSs and BEs are not yet employed as additives at a substantial scale commercially. Furthermore, regulations governing the usage of new ingredients necessitate considerable research and safety assessment in order to charter approvals for food inclusion. However, commercialization is often inadequate due to challenges in process design, downstream processing, and low yields. All of the aforementioned factors influence the monetary input for the BS and BE industries, as compared with chemical surfactants. Nevertheless, BSs have an indisputable potential for substituting conventional surfactants, with prodigious advantages to food industries.
Employing appropriate approaches in exploring applications of BSs and BEs in food industries is imperative. Researchers need to channel their findings in unique ways toward BSs with high HLB values, which would be beneficial for applications related with emulsification processes. BSs possessing antimicrobial potential with low MIC values should be used for preservative purposes. To rule out the toxicity issue, we must select strains with nonpathogenic or GRAS status for BS and BE production. The BSs and BEs obtained from GRAS strains may be the future choice due to their compliance with FDA guidelines (Food additive amendment, 1958), i.e., "GRAS ingredients". There should, therefore, be a focus on the availability of a wider range of BS congeners for varying and potentially new-to-market commercial applications produced using nonpathogenic bacterial species.
An example of "slippery surfactants" (a probiotic-based product, i.e., PreLiminate ® ) used to accomplish surface colonization with advantageous bacteria appears to be helpful in eliminating biofilms in the food industry. The resistance evolved by food pathogens to microbial surfactants is also an unknown field, which needs to be considered for their active use as antimicrobial agents. In addition, the sensorial impact of BSs/BEs, in addition to their interaction with food components, needs to be further investigated. An innovative trend is to produce a tailored enzymatic synthesis of BSs, Glysosurf ® , which appears to be promising. The unique properties presented by microbial BSs/BEs propose the future of molecules to be utilized the food processing chain, whether as additives, surface modifiers, and/or cleaning agents.