The present inventors disclose new fermentate compositions that display antimicrobial activity against a variety of microorganisms in foods. The fermentate compositions may not only be active at acidic pHs, but also retain antimicrobial activity at elevated pHs including neutral pHs. In addition to new fermentate compositions, the present invention also relates to improved methods for making such fermentate compositions and using unpurified fermentate compositions to effectively preserve food products.