Pizza Ingredient Could Become a Disinfectant

Oregano oil, the deliciously aromatic herb on your pizza, may become more than just a seasoning. In lab experiments, researchers found that carvacrol, a chemical within the herb, is effective against norovirus—the world’s leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea. Published this week in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, scientists believe carvacrol could be used as a food or surface sanitizer and become part of routine cleaning to prevent outbreaks.